The U.S. Commerce Department is reportedly preparing to permit Nvidia Corp (NVDA) to export its advanced H200 AI chips to China, according to Semafor, citing sources familiar with the plan. Following the news, Nvidia shares jumped 2.2% in early trading.
While Reuters could not independently confirm the report, the potential move marks a significant shift from prior export restrictions. The Trump administration had briefly considered banning the sale of such high-end AI chips to China, before later easing those restrictions earlier this year.
The H200 chip, introduced two years ago, features higher-bandwidth memory compared to its predecessor, the H100, enabling faster data processing and enhanced AI performance. Industry analysts estimate it is twice as powerful as Nvidia’s H200-compatible H20 chip, which was previously the most advanced semiconductor legally exportable to China.
Market watchers note that allowing the export of H200 chips could bolster Nvidia’s position in the global AI semiconductor market while easing tensions over U.S.-China technology trade restrictions.
Requests for comment from the U.S. Commerce Department and Nvidia were not immediately returned.
About The Author
