Trump approves export of Nvidia H200 chips to China
In a notable development in the course of the technological war between Washington and Beijing, US President Donald Trump announced that he had reached a strategic agreement with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, allowing the giant American company Nvidia to resume exporting its most advanced artificial intelligence chips to the Chinese market.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump revealed that he had officially informed the Chinese president of the US administration's approval to ship Nvidia's H200 series products—the latest and most powerful in their class—to a select list of "approved customers" in China and other countries. The US president emphasized that this move would be subject to strict conditions to ensure the sustainability of US national security, indicating a rigorous oversight mechanism for those benefiting from these technologies.
Background to “Chip Wars” and the change of course
This decision represents a significant shift from the stringent policies of recent years, during which the United States imposed broad restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductors to China, fearing their use in developing Chinese military capabilities or enhancing cyber surveillance systems. The previous Biden administration had tightened restrictions on China's access to chips such as the A100 and H100, forcing Chinese companies to seek less efficient domestic alternatives.
The importance of H200 chips and their technological impact
NVIDIA’s H200 chip is a cornerstone in the development of generative AI models and high-speed computing systems. These chips boast immense data processing capabilities and unprecedented memory capacity, making them essential for training Large Language Models (LLMs) relied upon by major technology companies. Allowing the export of this technology will enable qualified Chinese companies to re-enter the global AI race.
Economic and geopolitical dimensions
Economically, this decision represents a major breakthrough for Nvidia, for whom China is one of the largest global markets. The company has previously suffered from fluctuating revenues due to export restrictions, forcing it to design "softened" versions of its chips to comply with US sanctions. Trump's decision reflects a pragmatic approach aimed at balancing the commercial interests of major US companies with security concerns by replacing a blanket ban with a "whitelist" of trusted customers, which could open a new door for broader trade negotiations between the two superpowers.
