The United States government has launched a fresh review of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips being sold to China, only days after President Donald Trump approved the exports under specific conditions.
President Trump recently allowed Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 AI chips to Chinese buyers. He attached one key condition: 25% of the proceeds must go to the US government. Trump said the move would help preserve American technological leadership over Chinese chipmakers.
Despite the approval, the decision has triggered concern in Washington. Several U.S. lawmakers have warned that advanced chips could strengthen China’s military capabilities and erode the U.S. advantage in artificial intelligence.
Officials have also raised questions about the pace of the approval process and whether Chinese companies will ultimately receive permission to purchase the chips.
Trump just approved NVIDIA H200 exports to China (with a 25% surcharge). This could be one of the most consequential AI hardware policy shifts of the year.
Why it matters:
• H200 is 13× faster than the China-only H20
• China’s unconstrained demand could reach $40–50B
•… pic.twitter.com/kY6eSXQZQf
— TechInsights (@techinsightsinc) December 16, 2025According to Reuters, the US Commerce Department has sent Nvidia’s license applications to the State Department, the Energy Department, and the Department of Defence for detailed review. These agencies will assess the national security implications before a final determination. President Trump will make the ultimate decision.
A White House spokesperson said the administration remains committed to protecting US technological dominance while ensuring national security remains intact.
Read: US Approves Nvidia H200 AI Chip Exports to China with 25% Fee
The current review marks a shift from the Biden administration’s approach, which imposed tighter restrictions on the export of advanced AI chips to China due to security risks. Meanwhile, Nvidia is reportedly considering boosting production of the H200 chips in response to strong interest from China. Until recently, these chips were not authorised for sale in the Chinese market.
