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Cray clear to sell NEC supercomputers

The U.S. Commerce Department has lifted an order that imposed a high tax on some Japanese supercomputers being sold in the United States, clearing the way for supercomputer specialist Cray to begin selling systems from its one-time rival NEC. The order was triggered by legal action by Cray accusing Japanese supercomputer companies of trying to gain market share by selling products below market value, a practice called "dumping." Cray agreed to become NEC's sole U.S. distributor of the product as part of a settlement of the dispute. As part of the deal, NEC is investing $25 million in Cray in exchange for 3.125 million shares at $8 apiece. The transaction is expected to close by May 11, Cray said.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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Stephen Shankland
The U.S. Commerce Department has lifted an order that imposed a high tax on some Japanese supercomputers being sold in the United States, clearing the way for supercomputer specialist Cray to begin selling systems from its one-time rival NEC. The order was triggered by legal action by Cray accusing Japanese supercomputer companies of trying to gain market share by selling products below market value, a practice called "dumping."

Cray agreed to become NEC's sole U.S. distributor of the product as part of a settlement of the dispute. As part of the deal, NEC is investing $25 million in Cray in exchange for 3.125 million shares at $8 apiece. The transaction is expected to close by May 11, Cray said.