Nvidia is preparing to resume shipments of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China, signalling a potential reset in cross-border technology trade after a change in US policy, according to a Reuters exclusive.
The company has reportedly told Chinese clients that it aims to start shipping its H200 AI chips before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February.
The plan depends on regulatory clearance and remains subject to approvals on both sides.
While Nvidia intends to draw initially from existing inventory, the timing and scale of deliveries could still shift depending on decisions by Chinese authorities and US regulators reviewing export licences.
Planned shipments from existing stock
Nvidia has indicated that initial shipments would be fulfilled from current stockpiles.
Experts said deliveries are expected to range between 5,000 and 10,000 chip modules.
This would be equivalent to around 40,000 to 80,000 individual H200 AI chips.
If approved, these shipments would represent the first deliveries of H200 chips to China since restrictions were imposed on advanced AI processors.
Despite the preparations, uncertainty remains high. Beijing has not yet approved any purchases of the H200 chips, and the timeline could change depending on government decisions.
Future capacity plans
Beyond the initial shipments, Nvidia has also told Chinese clients that it plans to expand production capacity for the H200 chips.
Orders linked to this additional capacity are expected to open in the second quarter of 2026.
The H200 is part of Nvidia’s previous-generation Hopper line. Although it has been overtaken by the company’s newer Blackwell chips, it remains widely used in AI workloads.
Nvidia has shifted much of its manufacturing focus to Blackwell and its upcoming Rubin line, making H200 supply very limited.
US policy reversal
The planned restart of shipments follows a statement earlier this month by US President Donald Trump that Washington would allow sales of H200 chips to China, subject to a 25% fee.
The Trump administration has since launched an inter-agency review of licence applications for H200 sales.
This approach marks a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s policy, which banned exports of advanced AI chips to China on national security grounds.
The licence review process is now central to whether Nvidia can proceed with deliveries as planned.
China weighs approvals
The possible return of H200 shipments comes as China continues efforts to develop its domestic AI chip industry.
Local chipmakers have not yet matched the performance of the H200, raising concerns that renewed access to imported processors could affect domestic progress.
Chinese officials reportedly held emergency meetings earlier this month to discuss whether to allow the shipments.
One proposal under consideration would require each H200 purchase to be bundled with a set ratio of domestically produced chips.
For Chinese technology groups such as Alibaba Group and ByteDance, access to the H200 would provide processors that are estimated to be about six times more powerful than the H20, a downgraded chip Nvidia designed for the Chinese market.
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