Nvidia CEO joins Trump in China as AI chip export controls loom over summit
Primary region China
Tags Trade · Policy · Security
Regions China · US
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined President Trump's delegation to China as a last-minute addition, thrusting AI and semiconductor export controls into the spotlight ahead of the Xi summit. While Trump's team had approved Nvidia's H200 AI chips for export to China in late 2025, no chips have actually shipped — U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Beijing was blocking purchases to focus on domestic chip development. Huawei chips now account for nearly 41% of China's AI chip market. Beijing's reluctance to buy H200s may reflect a negotiating strategy to pressure Washington into approving more advanced chips.
Strategic interpretation
Beijing is playing a dual game on AI chips: publicly decrying U.S. export controls while privately blocking H200 purchases to nurture domestic champions like Huawei and to hold out for access to more advanced technology. Huang's last-minute inclusion signals Trump's desire to announce a chip deal, but Beijing's willingness to buy may depend on extracting concessions far beyond the H200.