Nvidia CEO granted approval to export AI processing hardware to China - Nvidia CEO reveals decision to resume AI chip exports to China
In a significant development in the ongoing US-China tech trade dispute, Nvidia has announced that it will resume shipping its advanced H20 AI chips to China. This decision comes after the White House had imposed restrictions on such chip sales earlier in April 2025, citing national security concerns.
Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, made the announcement following negotiations with the US government, which has now assured Nvidia that the necessary licenses will be granted, allowing the tech giant to start deliveries soon.
The resumption of sales is a significant pivot as the US had previously tightened export controls on advanced AI chips like Nvidia's H20 and AMD's MI308 to limit China’s access, aiming to curb China’s AI development while promoting domestic innovation within China.
Huang emphasized the importance of China’s AI research ecosystem, noting that half of the world's AI researchers are in China, and highlighted the innovative and dynamic market there. He underscored the need for American companies to compete and serve that market.
The decision reflects a nuanced approach: controlling sensitive tech transfer while acknowledging China's role in AI research. It potentially eases tensions on one dimension of the ongoing US-China tech trade dispute.
Before the restrictions, Nvidia sold H20 chips worth $4.5 billion to China. However, due to the restrictions, the company could only supply a slower version of the H20 chips.
The agreement aims to ease mutual restrictions between China and the US, with Beijing demanding that the U.S. allow the export of key technologies that China relies on. Washington, on the other hand, had wanted China to loosen its export controls on rare earths crucial to industry.
This development follows a meeting between Jensen Huang and Chinese government and industry representatives in China, where he made the announcement to Chinese journalists. Huang also met with US President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss artificial intelligence.
It is important to note that it is technically impossible for Nvidia to further downgrade the current chips to meet export requirements, as emphasized by the tech company. The exact contents of the agreement remain unknown.
This move could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry and the ongoing US-China trade dispute. As the world's two largest economies, the US and China play a crucial role in shaping the global tech landscape. The resumption of sales of Nvidia's advanced H20 AI chips to China marks a step towards easing tensions and potentially fostering cooperation between the two nations.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the advancements in technology and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the business and industry sectors.
- The resumption of Nvidia's H20 AI chip sales to China could potentially influence policies and legislation in the politics arena, particularly in relation to war and conflicts, as the control of advanced technologies becomes a significant factor.
- As the world's two largest economies, the US and China play a crucial role not just in the tech landscape, but also in general news, with their decisions impacting global economies and technological advancements.
- The agreement between Nvidia and the US government on the resumption of chip sales will likely spur discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in business and industry, particularly in the context of global competition.
- The decision to resume Nvidia's H20 AI chip sales to China is a testament to the importance of finance, as it reflects the potential economic benefits of maintaining trade relations, even in the face of national security concerns.
