A top US official confirms no Nvidia H200 AI chips have been sold to Chinese firms yet, despite a deal allowing sales with a 25% US revenue share.
WASHINGTON: A high-end Nvidia artificial intelligence chip has not yet been sold to Chinese companies despite softened US export restrictions.
US Commerce Department export enforcement official David Peters confirmed the situation when questioned by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“My understanding is that so far none have been sold,” Peters said regarding H200 chip sales to Chinese end-users.
The H200 chip, used to train and run AI systems, had been barred from sale in China over national security concerns.
President Donald Trump said in December he had reached an agreement with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to ease the restrictions.
The commerce department confirmed the H200 deal in January, under which the US government receives a 25% cut of sales revenue.
However, conditions imposed on the sales have reportedly made it difficult for shipments to be approved.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told reporters last month that “the actual license for H200 is being finalized.”
He expressed hope the Chinese government would allow their sale.
“We’re looking forward to returning to China so that we can compete in the market,” Huang said.
“They have many very strong chip companies, and so we have to compete quite vigorously.”
Nvidia’s most advanced chips, the Blackwell and forthcoming Rubin series, remain banned for sale in China.
These top-of-the-range models were not included in the H200 agreement.
Beijing is accelerating domestic chip development and production to rival industry leaders like Nvidia.
The California-based company is the world’s most valuable firm.
Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest developments.
