US approves Nvidia exports; China clarifies import policy

Washington has cleared Nvidia to sell its second-most-advanced H200 AI chips to Chinese buyers, but under tight limits. The US Commerce Department will review exports case by case, and shipments to China cannot exceed half of the volume supplied to the US market. Nvidia must also certify there is no domestic shortage of H200 chips before exporting, according to the South China Morning Post, citing the Bureau of Industry and Security.

Beijing has, in parallel, set its own conditions on H200 imports, saying approvals will be granted only in special cases. Analyst Richard Windsor of Radio Free Mobile described China’s directive as deliberately vague, suggesting H200s may be allowed for uses such as university research. He argues China will use any imported chips to push indigenous development and reduce reliance on foreign technology, the same trajectory the US is trying to slow. Chinese industry figures have also raised cybersecurity concerns, while companies including Alibaba and TikTok-owner ByteDance are reportedly preparing large H200 orders.