China is preparing to restrict access to Nvidia’s latest H200 AI chips, even after former U.S. President Donald Trump approved the export of these high-end chips to the country, according to the Financial Times. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Beijing regulators are considering measures to limit the availability of the H200.

What Are Nvidia H200 Chips?

The H200 represents Nvidia’s second-generation artificial intelligence (AI) chip series, designed for advanced computing and AI workloads. These chips are highly sought after globally, making them a strategic asset in both the U.S. and China.

Why China Is Restricting Access

Beijing has been cautious about allowing domestic companies unrestricted access to U.S.-made technology. The move to limit H200 chip availability comes as part of China’s ongoing efforts to counter U.S. technology restrictions. Analysts say these controls could create challenges for Nvidia and other American chipmakers trying to expand in China’s large AI market.

Even with Trump’s approval of exports, China may impose restrictions or quotas that reduce the overall impact on Nvidia’s sales. The Financial Times report suggests regulators are discussing ways to allow only limited access to H200 chips.

Market Reaction

Following the report, Nvidia shares, which initially rose by about 2% in premarket trading, later trimmed gains and were last up roughly 0.6%. Other chipmakers, including AMD and Intel, also saw their premarket gains decrease slightly.

So far in 2025, Nvidia stock has surged nearly 40%, outperforming the S&P 500’s 16.4% gain during the same period.

Analysts’ Take

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, noted that the Trump-era export approval may have limited impact unless Nvidia can also export other chip lines like Blackwell or Rubin. She suggests that restrictions on H200 chips alone might not fully open China’s AI market to U.S. companies.

U.S. Export Rules and Fees

Under Trump’s announcement, exports of the H200 chips to China would come with a 25% fee. Previously, U.S. rules prohibited the sale of advanced AI processors to China, which constrained Nvidia’s growth opportunities in one of the world’s largest markets for AI hardware and development.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All stock market data is subject to change, and readers should conduct their own research before making investment decisions.