The United States has granted export clearances for about 10 Chinese companies to buy Nvidia’s H200 AI chip, according to sources cited by multiple outlets. The approved buyers reportedly include major firms such as Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD.com, along with additional companies. Some intermediaries or distributors, including Lenovo and Foxconn, are also said to have been cleared. Under the licensing terms described by sources, approved customers can purchase up to 75,000 H200 units, either directly from Nvidia or through the approved intermediaries.
Despite the clearances, the transactions have not moved forward: sources say that no H200 chips have been delivered so far, leaving the deal in limbo. Reporting indicates that Chinese companies have paused their plans after guidance from Beijing, while U.S. export controls have tightened over time. The reasons for the slowdown are described as unclear in parts, but include pressure in China to block or closely vet orders for advanced chips.
The situation unfolds as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang seeks to resolve the deadlock during a China trip that is described as being added to a broader political visit schedule. U.S. officials have also characterized Beijing as restricting such purchases to support domestic industry priorities.
