Overview
- Commerce finalized rules allowing China-bound H200 exports only after independent U.S. lab testing, customer vetting, a prohibition on military use, and a cap that limits Chinese deliveries to no more than 50% of U.S. volumes.
- The administration invoked Section 232 to levy a 25% tariff on select advanced AI chips, with exemptions for imports supporting U.S. data centers, startups, civil uses, public sector needs, and broader domestic supply-chain buildout.
- Reuters reported that Chinese customs instructed agents to block H200 entries for now, leaving the timing and feasibility of licensed shipments uncertain.
- In a House hearing, lawmakers and former national security officials from both parties criticized the decision, arguing sales could weaken the U.S. AI advantage and accelerate Beijing’s military modernization.
- Nvidia said it complies with U.S. export rules and denied requiring full upfront payment from Chinese buyers, as questions persist over supply constraints and the president’s stated plan for a 25% U.S. take on China sales.