US President Donald Trump allows chip giant Nvidia to sell more powerful AI chips to China.
Dec 9, 2025, 4:17 amDec 9, 2025, 4:17 am
It’s all about the H200 chip systems of the previous Nvidia generation Hopper, emphasized Trump on his online platform Truth Social.
Donald Trump has Nvidia chips exported to China – but these are not the latest models. Image: keystone
The US government will retain a 25 percent share of the proceeds. The agreement does not apply to Nvidia’s current Blackwell chip generation and the next Rubin system.
Nvidia is by far the most important provider of chip systems for training and operating artificial intelligence. However, the US group currently has almost no business in China following trade policy maneuvers by Washington and Beijing.
Zigzag course for China exports
Originally, Nvidia was only allowed to sell slimmed-down chips called H20 to China. Then the Trump administration banned this in the spring. The ban was later lifted – with the condition that a share of the sales proceeds end up with the American government. But the Chinese government no longer wanted the H20 chips, which had significantly reduced performance, and instructed companies not to buy them.
The aim of US restrictions imposed years ago is to slow down China’s progress in the development of artificial intelligence, which can also be used militarily.
Success for Nvidia boss
Meanwhile, Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, who was able to develop a good rapport with Trump, warned that China would not be stopped on the path to artificial intelligence. Instead, the country is developing its own strong technology, which will later compete on the global market with US offerings from Nvidia, among others. His conclusion: Nvidia must be able to sell chips to China so that the AI industry continues to be dominated by American technology.
Nvidia welcomed Trump’s decision. Being able to sell the H200 chips to customers verified by the US Department of Commerce is a “thoughtful balance” that is good for America. (sda/dpa)