NVIDIA AI chip sales remain stuck in China despite U.S. approval

Staff Reporter: PNN

Although the U.S. government has approved nearly 10 Chinese companies to purchase NVIDIA’s second-most powerful AI chip, H200, no shipments have been made so far. The situation has created significant uncertainty amid ongoing U.S.–China tech tensions.

According to sources, approved companies include major tech firms such as Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD.com. Distributors like Lenovo and Foxconn have also been permitted to purchase the chips.

However, despite approval, Chinese companies have not yet proceeded with purchases. Several sources suggest that after guidance from Beijing, many firms have stepped back for now.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang traveled to China this week to advance discussions on the matter. He reportedly joined a delegation led by U.S. President Donald Trump’s representatives during the visit to Beijing.

The report states that although the U.S. Commerce Department has issued licenses for these chip sales, each approved customer is limited to purchasing up to 75,000 chips. However, since no actual shipments have begun, the entire process remains stalled.

Analysts say this situation is further complicating the U.S.–China technology competition. Previously, NVIDIA controlled about 95 percent of China’s advanced chip market.

NVIDIA once generated significant revenue from China, which accounted for a large portion of its total income. However, due to U.S. export restrictions and tightening policies, its access to the Chinese market has become increasingly limited.

Chinese authorities have also maintained a strict stance. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission have not yet issued any official comments.

Experts believe that if H200 chip sales begin, it could significantly reshape global AI competition. However, due to political and strategic tensions, that possibility remains uncertain for now.