A senior U.S. commerce official has confirmed that no H200 artificial intelligence chips from Nvidia have been sold to Chinese companies, despite recent adjustments to export controls aimed at softening restrictions.
The statement was made by David Peters, an export enforcement official with the U.S. Department of Commerce, during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. His testimony clarifies the current status of a complex agreement involving one of the world’s most advanced AI processors.
The H200 chip had been barred from export to China by Washington on national security grounds. In December, President Donald Trump stated he had reached an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease those restrictions. However, a deal confirmed by the Commerce Department in January includes conditions that have reportedly slowed the approval process for shipments. The agreement also stipulates that the U.S. government would receive a 25 percent share of sales.
According to Peters, “My understanding is that so far none have been sold” to Chinese end-users. This situation underscores the gap between diplomatic easing of rules and the practical hurdles of licensing under ongoing scrutiny.
The limbo surrounding the H200 occurs as China accelerates its own domestic semiconductor programs to compete with Nvidia, the California-based firm that dominates the global AI chip market. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s most advanced offerings, the Blackwell and upcoming Rubin series, remain completely prohibited from the Chinese market and were not part of the H200 arrangement.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang indicated last month that the final licensing for H200 sales to China was pending, expressing hope for regulatory approval. “We’re looking forward to returning to China so that we can compete in the market,” Huang said, acknowledging the strength of local Chinese chip competitors.
The case highlights the persistent tension between commercial interests and national security policy in U.S.-China technology relations. While the path for the H200 appears to inch forward, the continued prohibition of more powerful chips illustrates the stringent limits that remain. The outcome of the H200’s licensing will be closely watched as a barometer for future access to cutting-edge AI hardware in one of the world’s largest technology markets.
