Nvidia to Resume AI Chip Sales to China After U.S. Government Approval
Nvidia has announced plans to restart sales of its high-performance AI chips to China, following confirmation that the U.S. government will issue the necessary export licenses.
In a blog post, the American tech giant said it had received assurances from Washington that it would be permitted to export its H20 chips to Chinese customers, reversing a previous restriction that had effectively halted sales to one of the company’s biggest international markets.
The H20 chip was specifically developed for the Chinese market in response to tightening U.S. export controls. Although originally allowed under guidelines introduced by the Biden administration in 2023, the chip was swept up in a broader ban imposed in April this year, when former President Donald Trump returned to the White House and reintroduced stricter trade limits amid growing concerns over the potential military use of advanced AI technologies by China.
Nvidia’s latest announcement comes amid signs of a thaw in U.S.–China trade relations. Both countries recently agreed to pause their escalating tariff dispute, setting an August 12 deadline to negotiate a longer-term deal. In parallel, Beijing has eased restrictions on rare earth mineral exports, and Washington has lifted some curbs on American chip design software companies operating in China.
Nvidia, which recently became the world’s most valuable publicly traded company with a market valuation surpassing $4 trillion, has repeatedly emphasized China’s importance to its global business. Chief Executive Jensen Huang has been actively involved in negotiations, lobbying both U.S. and Chinese officials to secure the green light for renewed sales.
Huang, currently visiting China, reportedly met with President Trump to reaffirm Nvidia’s commitment to supporting job creation in the U.S. and maintaining American leadership in the AI sector. He also held talks with Chinese officials to discuss responsible AI development and opportunities for using the technology to boost productivity.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has yet to comment publicly on the decision to allow exports of Nvidia’s H20 chips.
The return of Nvidia’s AI hardware to the Chinese market is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s technology sector, where demand for cutting-edge AI solutions continues to surge.
