US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has confirmed that Nvidia’s advanced H200 AI chips have yet to be shipped to China, as regulatory approvals remain stalled. The Chinese government has so far prevented domestic companies from acquiring these chips, prioritizing the development of its own semiconductor sector.
“We have not sold them chips as of yet,” Lutnick stated, referring specifically to the exports of the H200 chips. This comes despite a policy shift during the Biden administration’s transition in January, which granted conditional approval for the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China. The move had sparked concerns in Washington about the potential military applications of cutting-edge US technology.
However, actual shipments have been delayed due to unresolved disagreements over export terms between the two nations. Sources indicate that disputes regarding compliance and regulatory conditions have further hindered progress on finalizing these deals.
In a broader context, Lutnick also discussed the ongoing debate over tightening export controls. This includes the possible reinstatement of the “affiliates rule,” which would limit the sale of advanced US technology to thousands of Chinese-linked companies. He described the rule as “a smart thing to consider,” but emphasized that it remains part of larger trade negotiations with China.
