U.S. to Conduct Security Reviews on Nvidia’s China-Bound H200 Chips

The Trump administration will require special U.S.-based security reviews for Nvidia ($NVDA) H200 artificial-intelligence chips approved for export to China, an unusual step that underscores national-security scrutiny surrounding the arrangement. Under the plan, chips made in Taiwan will be shipped to the U.S. for inspection before continuing to Chinese buyers.

• The U.S. is set to receive a 25% cut of H200 sales to China, requiring a structure that avoids violating constitutional bans on export taxes.
• Administration officials say export approvals are not yet finalized and may change based on volumes and recipient lists.
• The Justice Department this week charged two individuals with trafficking export-controlled Nvidia chips, including the H200, to China.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Trump administration AI officials argue that U.S. chipmakers must remain active in China to compete with firms like Huawei.
• Some lawmakers warn the chips could indirectly benefit China’s military; Nvidia says no large-scale smuggling exists.
• Nvidia has sharply expanded its U.S. lobbying presence. Annual federal lobbying spending has grown from under $500,000 last year to more than $3 million so far in 2025.

Relevant Companies

• Nvidia ($NVDA) — Directly impacted due to new export-review requirements and revenue tied to China AI-chip sales.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.