In a major recalibration of US tech policy, President Donald Trump has granted Nvidia permission to export its H200 artificial intelligence chips to authorised buyers in China. The move loosens selected export controls while preserving strict national security protections on America’s most advanced semiconductor technology.
The decision arrives amid ongoing US concerns that unrestricted AI chip sales could accelerate China’s rapid technological growth. While the H200 is a high performance chip designed for AI training and large-scale computing, it is not Nvidia’s most powerful processor. Trump reaffirmed that the company’s flagship Blackwell series and the upcoming Rubin generation remain barred from Chinese markets, ensuring sensitive innovations stay within US control.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has become a key ally of the administration, has repeatedly argued that overregulation risks bolstering Chinese competitors such as Huawei. Trump echoed this view, emphasising that controlled exports benefit American workers, strengthen domestic supply chains, and generate revenue, including a newly mandated 25% fee on all approved shipments.
Trump also confirmed that he briefed Chinese President Xi Jinping on the policy shift, describing the exchange as positive and constructive. He sharply criticised former President Joe Biden’s export control strategy, saying it forced US chipmakers to create “degraded” AI products with little global appeal—ultimately slowing innovation and undermining American competitiveness.
Declaring a new direction, Trump said his administration is committed to protecting national security while ensuring the US stays ahead in the global AI race.
More policy updates are expected soon. The Commerce Department is finalising similar export pathways for AMD and Intel, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the semiconductor industry and signalling broader reforms in US-China tech relations
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