Nvidia has revealed plans to resume sales of its H20 AI processors to China following assurances from the U.S. government.
The move comes after Washington imposed export controls in April requiring licences for these chip sales, which had effectively halted Nvidia’s shipments to China.
The H20 chips were initially designed to bypass earlier restrictions on exports to China. Nvidia stated on Tuesday, “The U.S. government has assured NVIDIA that licenses will be granted, and NVIDIA hopes to start deliveries soon,” indicating that shipments may recommence shortly.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has criticised the export curbs, saying they have almost halved the company’s share of China’s market. His lobbying efforts intensified after meeting President Donald Trump, where he emphasised Nvidia’s commitment to U.S. job growth and AI leadership.
This easing aligns with a recent tentative trade agreement between the U.S. and China to relax certain export controls on technology and rare-earth minerals. Nvidia also introduced the RTX PRO GPU, described as “fully compliant” and suitable for smart factories and logistics, though it is unclear if this specifically refers to China export rules.
Nvidia’s shares rose around 4.5% following the announcement.
Huang is currently in China meeting officials to discuss AI’s benefits and promote safe development. While some expected local firms such as Huawei to benefit from previous restrictions, China’s chips still lag behind Nvidia’s and major manufacturers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.