The Trump administration has paused plans to restrict exports of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips to China following CEO Jensen Huang’s attendance at a Mar-a-Lago dinner last week2. Nvidia’s stock surged nearly 14% on April 9 after reports indicated the White House shelved the proposed curbs, which were finalized and set to take effect imminently13.
Key points:
H20 Chip Status: The H20 is currently the most advanced AI processor Nvidia can legally sell to China under existing U.S. restrictions2.
Policy Shift: The reversal reportedly followed Nvidia’s commitment to invest in U.S.-based AI data centers12.
Market Impact: Chinese firms had stockpiled ~$16B worth of H20 chips in Q1 2025 anticipating stricter controls2.
The decision drew criticism from lawmakers concerned about China’s access to advanced AI technology2.
The Trump administration has paused plans to restrict exports of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips to China
