TECH

U.S. Eases Restrictions on Nvidia H200 Chip Exports to China

Published: Jan. 14, 2026 5:54 p.m. GMT+8

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The U.S. has revised its export control rules to allow the sale of Nvidia Corp.’s advanced H200 chips to the Chinese mainland and Macao under a case-by-case review process, relaxing a previous policy that effectively banned such transactions.

A document from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, available in the official journal Federal Register, shows the policy shift from a “presumption of denial” for certain advanced computing products and is set to take effect Jan. 15.

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The U.S. now allows Nvidia H200 chip exports to China and Macao under strict review, with performance capped at below 21,000 TOPS and 6,500 GB/s DRAM bandwidth.
Nvidia’s H200, matching these new rules, is back in mass production for Chinese buyers; more powerful B200 chips remain banned.
Domestic AI chipmakers like Cambricon saw revenue surge over 43 times amid the prior ban, but Chinese firms still favor Nvidia’s superior H200 for AI training.

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Who’s Who

Nvidia Corp.: Nvidia Corp. can now sell its advanced H200 chips to mainland China and Macao under a revised US export policy. This move relaxes a previous ban, allowing Nvidia to re-enter a significant market. The H200 chips are critical for AI training, and President Donald Trump confirmed the sales, while Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang reported restarting H200 production due to strong Chinese demand.

Cambricon Technologies Corp. Ltd.: Cambricon Technologies Corp. Ltd. (688256.SH) is a Chinese AI chipmaker that experienced significant growth when U.S. export controls restricted Nvidia's access to the Chinese market. The company reported a 43-fold increase in first-half revenue to 2.88 billion yuan ($413 million), achieving its first period of profitability with a net profit of 913 million yuan. Its stock price surged over 500% since September 2024.

MetaX Integrated Circuit Co. Ltd.: MetaX Integrated Circuit Co. Ltd. (芯砺智能科技（上海）有限公司) went public on Shanghai's Nasdaq-style Star Market in December, capitalizing on the temporary void left by Nvidia in the Chinese market. This listing occurred during a period when domestic AI chipmakers were gaining market share due to U.S. export restrictions.

Moore Threads Technology Co. Ltd.: Moore Threads Technology Co. Ltd. is a Chinese AI chipmaker that recently started trading on Shanghai's Nasdaq-style Star Market in December. This occurred during a period when domestic AI chipmakers gained market share due to previous US export bans on advanced Nvidia chips to China.

Shanghai Biren Technology Co. Ltd.: Shanghai Biren Technology Co. Ltd. is a Chinese AI chipmaker that recently listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It is among several domestic companies that have gained market share due to previous restrictions on Nvidia's exports to China.

Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor Co Ltd.: Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor Co Ltd. is a Chinese AI chipmaker that recently listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company is part of a wave of domestic firms seizing market opportunities as U.S. export controls limit access to advanced foreign chips in China.

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What Happened When

November 2023：: Nvidia releases the H200 chip, which offers higher memory bandwidth and capacity than previous models.

September 2024：: Cambricon’s stock price begins to surge, eventually rising more than 500% by January 2026.

April 2025：: The Trump administration tells Nvidia it needs a special license to export H20 chips to China, effectively halting sales to the Chinese market.

July 2025：: The Cyberspace Administration of China summons Nvidia over potential 'backdoor' security risks in its chips.

August 2025：: The U.S. signals a potential relaxation of export controls, proposing a 15% revenue levy in exchange for licenses during trade talks with China.

December 2025：: U.S. President Donald Trump states on social media that the U.S. will allow Nvidia to sell H200 chips to China and other approved nations provided U.S. national security is maintained; Nvidia would need to pay the U.S. government 25% of its H200 sales revenue.

December 2025：: MetaX Integrated Circuit Co. Ltd. and Moore Threads Technology Co. Ltd. begin trading on Shanghai’s Star Market.

By January 2026：: Shanghai Biren Technology Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor Co Ltd. have listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

January 6, 2026：: At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang confirms the restart of H200 production lines for the Chinese market; H200 is in mass production.

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