<Updated: January 19, 2026>
U.S. to collect 25% on sales as White House reverses export ban, while critics warn of potential security and competitive risks.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the United States will allow NVIDIA to export its H200 chips to approved customers in China and other countries.
In a post on his social media account, the president said the exports would be subject to vetting by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and that the government would collect a 25% fee on each transaction. He added that similar export permissions could eventually extend to other U.S. chipmakers, including AMD and Intel.
The H200 represents NVIDIA’s second-most advanced AI chip behind the US-restricted top-tier “Blackwell” B300 GPU.
In a brief statement, NVIDIA praised the decision as a “thoughtful balance” between maintaining U.S. national-security safeguards and allowing broader global market access.
In Chinese markets, demand was reported to be strong. Sources told Reuters that major technology firms, including ByteDance and Alibaba, have already approached NVIDIA regarding H200 orders. A separate review of tenders and academic procurement in China found that the H200 was already being used, often via grey-market channels, by universities, research institutes, and even defense-affiliated entities.
Supporters of the export approval argue that reopening the Chinese market will restore revenue for U.S. chip companies, sustain jobs, and preserve American competitiveness in global AI supply chains.
But critics in Washington expressed concern that the decision could undercut U.S. tech-competition advantages and potentially aid China’s military or surveillance capabilities. Some lawmakers described the decision as trading long-term strategic strength for short-term gains.
As the White House prepares the regulatory framework for export licenses, the H200 move marks a significant shift in U.S. chip export policy – the first major relaxation after years of increasingly strict controls on AI-capable semiconductors.
For a more in-depth analysis, please see this Center for a New American Security (CNAS) report, CNAS Insights | Unpacking the H200 Export Policy. H/T to Greg Allen at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
