Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Chinese authorities have approved multiple domestic companies to purchase Nvidia’s H200 AI chips, ending months of regulatory uncertainty that had stalled one of the most significant tech deals between the world’s two largest economies.
The breakthrough comes after both Washington and Beijing granted necessary clearances for the advanced semiconductor transactions. ByteDance, Tencent, and Alibaba — alongside AI startup DeepSeek — received collective approval to purchase over 400,000 units of the cutting-edge chips.
Double Approval Process Complete
The complex approval process required coordination from both sides of the Pacific. In February, the US Securities and Exchange Commission filings revealed America had licensed “small amounts of H200 products to specific China-based customers.”
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang confirmed at the GTC 2026 conference in San Jose that his company now holds clearances from both governments. “We have been licensed for many customers in China for the H200 and have received purchase orders from several companies,” Huang stated.
Production Restart After Regulatory Pause
The chipmaker had previously halted H200 production amid the diplomatic deadlock. Manufacturing is now resuming following the latest approvals, according to Huang’s announcement.
The H200 represents the most advanced AI chip Nvidia can legally sell to Chinese markets under current US export restrictions. The Trump administration initially approved the chip for Chinese sales in late 2025.
Limited Thaw in Tech Relations
While significant, this approval doesn’t indicate broader easing of US-China technology tensions. The deal operates under tightly controlled conditions that balance commercial interests with national security concerns.
Both governments continue pursuing parallel strategies: Washington maintains export controls on sensitive technologies while Beijing encourages development of domestic chip alternatives to reduce foreign dependence.
For global markets, the news provides modest optimism for Nvidia and the broader semiconductor sector, suggesting sustained demand for AI infrastructure despite ongoing geopolitical challenges.
The H200 chip targets high-performance artificial intelligence workloads, positioning it at the center of the global race for AI supremacy between the world’s economic superpowers.
