US Approves Sale of Nvidia's H200 Superchip to China
TL;DR
The United States announced on Tuesday (13) the approval for the export of the H200, Nvidia's second most powerful chip, to China, with specific rules to follow for the sale.
United States Lifts Export Restrictions on H200 Chip to China
The United States announced on Tuesday (13) the authorization for the export of the H200, Nvidia's second most powerful chip, to China. This measure comes with specific rules that must be followed to facilitate the sale.
Conditions for H200 Export
For the purchase to be finalized, Chinese companies must prove they have adopted security procedures approved by the U.S. government. Additionally, the chips cannot be used for military purposes.
Each H200 unit will have to undergo analysis by an independent laboratory, which will confirm its capabilities. Nvidia must also ensure there is a sufficient supply of the chip in the American market before approving sales to China, as well as ensure that the Asian country does not receive more than 50% of the total chips sold to U.S. customers.
Importance of the H200 Chip in the AI Race
The H200 is considered essential in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and has been central in the technological disputes between the U.S. and China. These chips are widely used in computers for training and developing sophisticated AI systems.
Geopolitical Context and Reasons for the Sale
In December 2025, then U.S. President Donald Trump announced the lifting of the sales ban on chips, conditional on a 25% tax for the U.S. government. This decision drew criticism from U.S. opponents of the Chinese government, who warned about the potential strengthening of China's armed forces and the diminishing American advantage in AI technology.
These concerns contributed to the ban imposed by Joe Biden's administration on the sale of advanced AI chips to the Asian country. In contrast, the Trump administration argued that authorizing sales would discourage Chinese competitors like Huawei from advancing in technological capability.
Challenges and Future Outlook
There are still doubts about the effectiveness of monitoring the established regulations and whether China will allow the internal commercialization of the chips. The strict control of exports is related to the U.S. strategy to maintain leadership in AI technology against the advancing Chinese, which promises to be an ongoing challenge in the future.
The implications of this decision will be closely analyzed, both in terms of national security and technological competitiveness between the powers.
Content selected and edited with AI assistance. Original sources referenced above.
