US to allow Nvidia’s H200 chip exports to China with 25% fee

• Policy does not cover Nvidia’s newest Blackwell or upcoming Rubin chips, which would remain outside the deal for China-bound exports.

The United States will permit exports of Nvidia’s H200 processors—its second-tier AI chips—to “approved” buyers in China and collect a 25 per cent fee on such sales, President Donald Trump announced, framing the move as a balance between national security and maintaining US leadership in AI.

Trump said he informed China’s President Xi Jinping of the decision and received a positive response, while noting the Commerce Department will finalise details and apply a similar approach to other US chipmakers, including AMD and Intel.

He emphasised the policy does not cover Nvidia’s newest Blackwell or upcoming Rubin chips, which he said remain outside the deal for China-bound exports.

Administration officials view the policy as a compromise intended to prevent a vacuum that could strengthen Huawei’s domestic AI chips, while still restricting access to Nvidia’s most advanced products. Nvidia called the plan to offer H200 to vetted commercial customers “a thoughtful balance,” as lawmakers on both sides voiced concerns over national security implications and potential boosts to China’s military capabilities. Trump’s announcement followed market chatter earlier in the day, and Nvidia shares moved after-hours on the news.

A White House official said the 25 per cent fee would be collected as an import tax in the US after chips fabricated in Taiwan arrive for security review, before any re-export to China.

Analysts noted H200 performance sits between Nvidia’s downgraded China-market H20 and the latest Blackwell generation used by US firms, underscoring the administration’s attempt to thread the needle between economic and security priorities amid ongoing US–China tech tensions.