WASHINGTON / NEW YORK — May 14, 2026 : The United States has approved a new round of artificial intelligence semiconductor sales to Chinese technology companies, marking a significant easing of export restrictions that had limited China’s access to advanced U.S.-made chips for several years.
According to reports citing industry insiders, the U.S. Department of Commerce has authorised approximately 10 major Chinese companies to purchase NVIDIA H200 artificial intelligence processors under a controlled licensing framework. The approved firms reportedly include Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance and JD.com.
The move comes amid reports that Washington is preparing to further ease or remove several remaining semiconductor trade restrictions affecting exports to China.
Under the current licensing arrangements, each approved Chinese customer is permitted to purchase up to 75,000 NVIDIA H200 chips. The processors can be supplied directly by NVIDIA or through authorised hardware and distribution partners, including Lenovo and Foxconn.
The approvals build on policy adjustments first announced in December 2025 by U.S. President Donald Trump. At the time, Trump stated that exports of NVIDIA’s H200 processors would be allowed under a regulated framework that included a 25 percent fee on such sales. The U.S. Department of Commerce formally implemented the policy in January 2026, allowing case-by-case licensing for the H200 and similar processors produced by companies such as AMD.
Under the export framework, NVIDIA must certify that sufficient chip supplies remain available for the U.S. domestic market before shipments are approved. Chinese buyers are also required to demonstrate adequate security procedures and provide assurances that the processors will not be used for military or surveillance purposes. In addition, exports to China are capped at no more than 50 percent of the volume sold within the United States, while shipments remain subject to third-party technical verification.
The revised policy applies specifically to H200-class processors and other compliant AI chips designed to remain within U.S. export performance thresholds. More advanced semiconductors, including certain Blackwell-series processors, continue to face stricter export controls and licensing requirements.
The policy shift coincides with ongoing diplomatic engagements between Washington and Beijing. NVIDIA Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang recently joined a U.S. delegation accompanying President Trump to Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at discussing trade and technology cooperation.
Before U.S. export controls were imposed, China accounted for approximately 20 to 25 percent of NVIDIA’s total revenue, making it one of the company’s largest international markets after the United States. Since the restrictions were introduced, NVIDIA has reported near-zero AI chip revenue from China in several recent quarters.
Following reports of the approvals and potential additional easing measures, NVIDIA shares rose sharply in trading. Investors viewed the development as a possible pathway for the company to recover part of the revenue lost due to sanctions and regain market share in China’s expanding AI infrastructure sector.
Industry analysts estimate that renewed access to Chinese customers could restore several billion dollars in annual revenue for NVIDIA if demand materialises within existing licensing and volume limits. The company has developed export-compliant processors, including the H20 and H200, specifically to meet U.S. regulatory thresholds while continuing sales to overseas markets.
The easing of restrictions also reflects broader changes in the global semiconductor market. During the sanctions period, China accelerated efforts to expand domestic semiconductor production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Chinese manufacturers supported by state-backed industrial policies have increased their share of the domestic AI server market, with local suppliers now estimated to hold roughly 41 percent of the sector.
Supporters of the revised export policy argue that controlled semiconductor exports help maintain U.S. technological leadership while supporting domestic chipmakers and generating additional government revenue through licensing fees. Critics, including lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties, have continued to raise concerns that advanced AI processors could indirectly support Chinese military or strategic technological development despite end-use restrictions and verification measures.
The latest measures do not represent a complete removal of all semiconductor export controls. Advanced AI accelerators exceeding defined performance thresholds remain restricted, and U.S. authorities continue to maintain oversight mechanisms intended to prevent diversion or unauthorised use of exported hardware.
As of 14 May 2026, NVIDIA had not issued an official public statement regarding the latest approvals or reports of a broader rollback of semiconductor trade restrictions.
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