Particle.news
Download on the App Store

U.S. Clears Nvidia H200 Sales to China Under Tight Export Controls

Licenses will be granted case by case under conditions prioritizing domestic supply with strict non‑military use limits.

Overview

  • Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security shifted to case‑by‑case licensing for H200 exports after previously defaulting to denials.
  • Conditions include adequate U.S. supply, third‑party review before shipment, a prohibition on military end use, and a cap limiting China’s imports to no more than 50% of U.S. customer volumes.
  • The authorization applies only to Nvidia’s 2024 H200, excluding newer Blackwell and Rubin chips from export approval.
  • Nvidia called the policy a thoughtful balance for approved commercial buyers, while Democratic senators warned it could bolster China’s military, cyber capabilities, and industry.
  • Chinese officials indicated H200 purchases would be limited as local firms adopt domestic chips such as those made by Huawei, and reports conflict on U.S. revenue‑sharing terms, citing a prior 15% figure and a separate 25% claim.