China has effectively banned imports of Nvidia H200 AI chips - Reuters

Chinese customs authorities have announced that Nvidia H200 AI chips are "not allowed to be imported into the country," three sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. According to one of Reuters' interlocutors, "the officials' wording was so harsh that it now looks like a de facto ban, although [China's] position may change in the future."

The Chinese customs authorities did not explain the reasons for their decisions and did not specify whether it was a complete ban or a temporary measure, the agency's sources noted. Reuters also failed to find out whether these restrictions apply to orders already placed for the H200 or only to new contracts.

In addition, on January 13, representatives of the Chinese government held meetings with local technology companies, where they explicitly recommended them not to buy Nvidia chips without absolute necessity, the agency's interlocutors said.

Nvidia did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

The H200, Nvidia's second most powerful AI chip, has become one of the key points of tension in the current US-China relationship. Despite the high interest from Chinese companies, it remains unclear whether Beijing is seeking to completely close access to these chips to support the development of domestic manufacturers, is only discussing possible restrictions or is using the situation as a pressure tool in negotiations with Washington, the agency writes.

H200 exports to China were finally approved by US President Donald Trump's administration this week, subject to a number of conditions. In the US, the controversy surrounding these shipments also continues: hardliners against China fear that such chips could strengthen China's military capabilities and undermine US technological leadership in AI.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor