Nvidia Still Waiting on China's H200 Orders Two Months After Trump's AI Chip Decision

Two months after President Trump's administration approved AI chip shipments to China, Nvidia has yet to sell a single H200 chip to the country, according to a top US export control official.

The delay highlights the complex regulatory environment surrounding advanced semiconductor exports to China, even after policy changes were announced. The H200 represents Nvidia's latest generation of AI accelerators, and the inability to secure sales in China's massive market underscores the ongoing tensions in US-China technology trade.

This situation comes amid broader developments in the AI chip industry, including reports that Nvidia's rival CoreWeave is seeking an $8.5 billion loan backed by a contract with Meta for up to $14.2 billion in services. Meanwhile, SambaNova has raised $350 million for its SN50 AI chip, which it claims runs five times faster than competitors.

The export restrictions on advanced chips to China have been a contentious issue, with companies like Nvidia pushing for clearer guidelines while US officials balance national security concerns with economic interests. The H200 delay suggests that even with official approval, the practical implementation of AI chip exports to China remains challenging.

This development is particularly significant given China's importance as a market for AI hardware and the strategic competition between the US and China in artificial intelligence development. The inability to sell H200 chips could impact Nvidia's revenue projections and market share in the world's second-largest economy.

For more context on the broader AI chip landscape, see coverage of SambaNova's $350M funding for its SN50 AI chip and CoreWeave's Meta-backed financing efforts.