US-China Trade Talks: AI Chip Curbs Avoided, Nvidia H200 Exports Remain Uncertain

Recent US-China trade discussions did not prioritize semiconductor export controls, according to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, indicating that a breakthrough on sales of advanced American AI chips to Chinese firms is unlikely soon. Greer stated that restrictions on semiconductor exports were not a major topic during bilateral meetings in Beijing this week, despite chipmaker Nvidia's push for increased access to the Chinese market. This suggests that near-term approval for expanded sales of Nvidia's advanced H200 artificial intelligence chips to China remains uncertain. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's presence during Trump's Beijing visit did not change the situation. Reuters reported that the US approved exports of H200 chips to around 10 Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance, although no shipments have been delivered yet. The Trump administration cleared the exports in December before adding further conditions in January. Greer noted that decisions on chip imports would depend on balancing commercial and national security considerations. The dispute over advanced AI chips is a key point of contention in the US-China technology rivalry. While Chinese AI firms are increasingly using domestically produced chips, US export restrictions hinder China's efforts to build a self-sufficient semiconductor ecosystem. Chinese chip manufacturers face challenges in scaling advanced production capacity, which has reportedly forced some AI companies in China to ration