Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday that Nvidia has not sold its H200 AI chips to Chinese companies, and he attributed the lack of sales to constraints imposed by China’s central government.
Asked specifically about exports of the H200 series to China, Lutnick said: "The Chinese central government has not let them, as of yet, buy the chips, because they’re trying to keep their investment focused on their own domestic industry." He followed that statement with a direct confirmation: "We have not sold them chips as of yet."
The comments come after a January decision by the Trump administration to approve sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips bound for China, subject to a set of conditions. That approval prompted concern among some U.S. policymakers who fear the advanced AI hardware could be redirected to bolster Chinese military capabilities.
Industry reports have flagged further complications. Sources cited by Reuters said shipments of the H200 units have been delayed amid disagreements over the terms of sale on both sides of the Pacific. Those reporting details did not change the core point Lutnick emphasized: as of his comments, no H200 chips have been sold to Chinese firms.
The available public account is limited to Lutnick’s statements and the reporting that shipment timing has been affected by unresolved contractual or regulatory terms. The officials who discussed delays described negotiations over conditions rather than the absence of regulatory approvals alone.
For market participants tracking the story, the developments combine trade policy, export controls and commercial negotiation dynamics. The only confirmed facts in the public record at this point are Lutnick’s remarks that sales have not occurred and the previously announced conditional approval in January.
Summary
- Howard Lutnick said Nvidia has not sold H200 chips to Chinese companies because Beijing has not permitted purchases.
- The Trump administration approved conditional exports of H200 chips in January.
- Shipment timing has been delayed due to disagreements over sales terms in China and the U.S., according to reporting that cites unnamed sources.
Contextual note: This article reports only the statements and reporting cited above; it does not introduce additional events or assertions beyond those sources.