No Nvidia H200 Chips Approved for Sale to China States US

Nvidia has not sold any of its H200 chips to China, even after the easing of shipment restrictions by the United States. This assertion was made by a senior US export control official in a report by Bloomberg on Wednesday. The current situation highlights the growing costs associated with ongoing uncertainties in US policy.

During a recent House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, David Peters, the assistant secretary for export enforcement at the US Commerce Department, responded to inquiries regarding the approval of H200 sales to China, stating that, to his knowledge, "so far, none" have been approved.

This scenario illustrates a self-defeating aspect of US strategy, as it seeks to curtail China's technological advancements while simultaneously aiming to profit from its vast market. Analysts have warned that the lack of consistent policy has compromised Nvidia's competitive landscape, both within China and globally.

Though Peters does not directly engage in the licensing process, his comments offer valuable insights into the workings of the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, the body responsible for overseeing US approvals for the export of sensitive technologies.

Peters' remarks come at a critical juncture for Nvidia, which is expected to release its earnings report soon. The report may provide insights into the company's progress in regaining a foothold in the lucrative Chinese market.

The US finds itself in a strategic conundrum, navigating the challenge of wanting to access China's sizeable market for potential profits while continuing to maintain its policies aimed at containing technological advancements. This contradiction has resulted in persistent uncertainty regarding US technology policies concerning China, according to Li Yong, a member of the executive council of the China Society for WTO Studies.

In December, the US government allowed Nvidia to sell H200 units to select Chinese customers, but subsequent guidelines released in January have complicated the approval landscape. These guidelines necessitate third-party verification regarding the AI capabilities of the chips and impose limits on the volume available for Chinese customers.

According to regulations mentioned in January, shipments to China must not exceed 50 percent of the total volume sold to US customers. Furthermore, Nvidia is required to confirm sufficient domestic supply, while Chinese purchasers must prove adequate security measures to prevent military applications of the technology.

These stringent restrictions have led to ongoing ambiguity surrounding access to the market. Citing sources familiar with the situation, the Financial Times noted that discussions concerning Nvidia's H200 chip sales to China remain in limbo as they await a US national security review.

Li articulated that Chinese companies increasingly require stability and predictability in procurement processes, and that ongoing policy reversals only serve to complicate long-term planning, thus impacting sales of US chips in the Chinese market.

As the US continues to strengthen its enforcement stance, Peters indicated that the government is intensifying efforts to combat the smuggling of advanced AI chips, including considerations to extend the statute of limitations and enhance enforcement penalties.

Meanwhile, in light of claims about DeepSeek's latest AI model being trained on Nvidia's Blackwell chip, Chinese officials have reiterated their position against the politicization of technology. With China reinforcing its own semiconductor capabilities, US firms aiming to regain influence in this market will need to foster better policy stability and cultivate partnerships that align with local industry requirements.