TIMELINE: GPU Export Controls, NVIDIA GPU Bans, & AI GPU Black Market

2018 GPU Export Controls

August 2018

August 13: The US authorities created the Nationwide Safety Fee on Synthetic Intelligence (NSCAI) as a part of the John S. McCain Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for Fiscal Yr 2019. The NSCAI had 15 commissioners who had been nominated by Congress and the Govt Department. The NSCAI was tasked with investigating how the US ought to compete in AI within the fashionable age and recommending actions for Congress and the manager department.

Within the phrases of the unique doc, the commissioners “shall take into account the strategies and means essential to advance the event of synthetic intelligence, machine studying, and related applied sciences by the US to comprehensively tackle the nationwide safety and protection wants of the US.”

2019 GPU Export Controls

Could 2019

Could 15: Citing nationwide safety dangers, the US authorities added Huawei to its Entity Record and restricted gross sales of Huawei’s gear into the US. 

2020 GPU Export Controls

Could 2020

Could 19: America restricted semiconductor designs, chipsets, and applied sciences to Huawei and its international associates. 

2021 GPU Export Controls

March 2021

The Nationwide Safety Fee on Synthetic Intelligence (NSCAI) launched its last report. The report offered suggestions to “advance the event of synthetic intelligence, machine studying, and related applied sciences to comprehensively tackle the nationwide safety and protection wants of the US.”

As a part of the report (web page 216), the NSCAI beneficial the US authorities and its allies “make the most of focused export controls on high-end semiconductor manufacturing gear… to guard present technical benefits and gradual the development of China’s semiconductor trade.” 

Additional on (web page 228), the report mentioned, “Trying throughout the AI stack, the {hardware} part of the AI stack accommodates essentially the most viable targets for conventional export controls.” The report (web page 231) targeted on semiconductor manufacturing gear for export management guidelines: “The first U.S. export management goal to constrain rivals’ AI capabilities ought to be subtle semiconductor manufacturing gear (SME) essential to manufacture high-end chips.” 

The report talked about export controls for GPUs (web page 500) as a manner “to forestall using

high-end U.S. AI chips in human rights violations.”

April 2021

NSCAI Commissioner Christopher Darby spoke at NVIDIA GTC concerning the NSCAI’s report back to Congress.

October 2021

October 1: The NSCAI formally ended on October 1, 2021. 

2022 GPU Export Controls

August 2022

August 31: NVIDIA filed a Kind 8-Okay with the SEC to tell buyers that the US authorities had instantly blocked exports of its A100 and H100 chips to China, together with Hong Kong. The export controls included DGX or different methods that incorporate an A100, H100, or A100X. Within the monetary paperwork, NVIDIA mentioned the US authorities knowledgeable it of the export restrictions on August 26, 2022. NVIDIA acknowledged that its third-quarter outcomes included as much as $400 million in anticipated gross sales to China that had been now unsure because of the export restrictions.

September 2022

September 1: NVIDIA filed a brand new Kind 8-Okay to let prospects know that the US authorities had supplied some exemptions for sure chip exports: 

“The U.S. authorities has approved exports, reexports, and in-country transfers wanted to proceed NVIDIA Company’s, or the Firm’s, improvement of H100 built-in circuits after the Firm filed its Present Report on Kind 8-Okay with the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee on August 31, 2022. The authorization additionally permits the Firm to carry out exports wanted to supply help for U.S. prospects of A100 by March 1, 2023. Moreover, the U.S. authorities approved A100 and H100 order success and logistics by the Firm’s Hong Kong facility by September 1, 2023.”

Following NVIDIA’s SEC submitting, media shops reported the US authorities ordered NVIDIA to cease promoting superior AI chips to China. 

• “We’re working with our prospects in China to fulfill their deliberate or future purchases with different merchandise and will search licenses the place replacements aren’t enough. The one present merchandise that the brand new licensing requirement applies to are A100, H100 and methods reminiscent of DGX that embrace them.”– NVIDIA to CNBC

• Sources:
  • CNBC: NVIDIA inventory falls after U.S. authorities restricts chip gross sales to China
  • The New York Instances: U.S. Restricts Gross sales of Refined Chips to China and Russia
  • Reuters: U.S. officers order NVIDIA to halt gross sales of high AI chips to China
  • CNN: US orders NVIDIA and AMD to cease promoting AI chips to China 
  • Associated Press: China calls for US drop tech export curbs after NVIDIA warning

October 2022

October 7: The Division of Commerce’s Bureau of Business and Safety (BIS) carried out a sequence of export controls to “defend US nationwide safety and international coverage pursuits.” The brand new export controls would hinder China’s potential to construct high-end semiconductors and buy superior chips from the US, together with for improvement of and sustaining supercomputers. 

In a briefing with reporters, the US authorities mentioned the brand new rules formalized the steerage beforehand despatched to NVIDIA. The Guardian reported: 

“The brand new rules may even severely limit export of US gear to Chinese language reminiscence chip makers and formalize letters despatched to NVIDIA Corp and Superior Micro Units Inc (AMD) limiting shipments to China of chips utilized in supercomputing methods that nations all over the world depend on to develop nuclear weapons and different army applied sciences.”

• Sources: 
  • The Guardian: Biden administration imposes sweeping tech restrictions on China
  • The New York Instances: Biden Administration Clamps Down on China’s Entry to Chip Know-how

November 2022 

November 7: Reuters reported that NVIDIA had created a brand new AI chip referred to as the A800 GPU for the China market. The A800 could be compliant with US export controls.

• “The NVIDIA A800 GPU, which went into manufacturing in Q3, is one other different product to the NVIDIA A100 GPU for patrons in China. The A800 meets the US authorities’s clear take a look at for diminished export management and can’t be programmed to exceed it.” – NVIDIA to Reuters

• Sources:
  • Reuters: Unique: NVIDIA affords new superior chip for China that meets U.S. export controls
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA Creates New Supercomputer Chip For Chinese language Market
  • The Verge: NVIDIA’s promoting a nerfed GPU in China to get round export restrictions
  • TechCrunch: NVIDIA touts a slower chip for China to keep away from US ban

2023 GPU Export Controls

March 2023

March 21: Reuters reported that NVIDIA had modified the H100 to be compliant with export guidelines to China.

• “On Tuesday, the corporate mentioned it has equally developed a China-export model of its H100 chip. The brand new chip, referred to as the H800, is being utilized by the cloud computing items of Chinese language expertise companies reminiscent of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd, an organization spokesperson mentioned.” […]

“The NVIDIA spokesperson declined to say how the China-focused H800 differs from the H100, besides that ‘our 800 sequence merchandise are totally compliant with export management rules.’” 

• Sources: 
  • Reuters: NVIDIA tweaks flagship H100 chip for export to China as H800
  • Knowledge Middle Dynamics: NVIDIA creates pared again H100 GPU for export to China, referred to as H800

June 2023

June 27: The Wall Road Journal reported that the US authorities is contemplating increasing export controls for GPUs and AI chips to China. The US Division of Commerce didn’t remark to the Wall Road Journal. 

• Sources:
  • The Wall Road Journal: U.S. Considers New Curbs on AI Chip Exports to China
  • MarketWatch: White Home says it’s targeted on being at entrance finish of provide chain for chips, received’t touch upon report of doable new ban on exporting AI chips to China
  • Reuters: US mulls new export restriction on computing energy in AI chips
  • TechCrunch: China’s AI companies may additional lose chip entry in new US ban

October 2023

October 17: The US Division of Commerce up to date its export compliance for superior semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing gear. The federal government mentioned: 

“At the moment’s guidelines reinforce the October 7, 2022, controls to limit the PRC’s potential to each buy and manufacture sure high-end chips essential for army benefit. These updates are vital to keep up the effectiveness of those controls, shut loopholes, and guarantee they continue to be sturdy.” 

The U.S. authorities has eliminated interconnect pace as a criterion for figuring out restricted chips. As a substitute, it would now concentrate on processor efficiency and efficiency density. In an announcement, the federal government mentioned:

“A efficiency density parameter prevents the workaround of merely buying a bigger variety of smaller datacenter AI chips which, if mixed, could be equally highly effective as restricted chips.”

As a part of the announcement, the administration informed reporters the brand new restrictions have an effect on NVIDIA’s A800 and H800 chips. A number of days prior, Reuters reported that the administration would quickly announce new export guidelines. 

• Sources:
  • Reuters: Unique: US tackles loopholes in curbs on AI chip exports to China
  • CNBC: U.S. curbs export of extra AI chips, together with NVIDIA H800, to China
  • Reuters: NVIDIA particulars superior AI chips blocked by new export controls
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: US Prohibits Exports of NVIDIA’s A800 and H800 to China, Blacklists Chinese language GPU Builders
  • The Verge: NVIDIA’s H800 AI chip for China is blocked by new export guidelines

October 23: NVIDIA filed a Kind 8-Okay with the SEC that mentioned the brand new export guidelines impression its A100, A800, H100, H800 and L40S chips. NVIDIA mentioned it “doesn’t anticipate that the accelerated timing of the licensing necessities can have a near-term significant

impression on its monetary outcomes.” 

December 2023

December 6: In a gathering with reporters in Singapore, NVIDIA mentioned that it was engaged on new chips that adjust to the federal government’s guidelines. 

• “NVIDIA has been working very intently with the U.S. authorities to create merchandise that adjust to its rules. Our plan now’s to proceed to work with the federal government to give you a brand new set of merchandise that adjust to the brand new rules which have sure limits.” – NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, as reported in Reuters

• Sources:
• Reuters: NVIDIA working intently with US to make sure new chips for China are compliant with curbs

December 28: NVIDIA launched a brand new model of RTX 4090 for the China market. The brand new chip, referred to as the GeForce RTX 4090D, could be compliant with US export management restrictions. 

• “The GeForce RTX 4090 D has been designed to completely adjust to U.S. authorities export controls. Whereas growing this product, we extensively engaged with the U.S. authorities.” – NVIDIA to Reuters

• “In 4K gaming with ray tracing and deep-learning tremendous sampling (DLSS), the GeForce RTX 4090D is about 5 % slower than the GeForce RTX 4090 and it operates like each different GeForce GPU, which will be overclocked by finish customers.” – NVIDIA to The Register

• Sources: 
  • Reuters: NVIDIA launches new gaming chip for China to adjust to US export controls
  • The Register: NVIDIA slowed RTX 4090 GPU by 11 %, to make it 100% authorized for export to China
  • The Verge: NVIDIA is releasing a slower RTX 4090 in China to adjust to US restrictions

2024 GPU Export Controls

February 2024

February 1: Reuters reported that NVIDIA had ready new GPUs for China, together with the H20. A number of sources informed Reuters that the brand new choices are much less highly effective than comparable chips from Huawei. 

• Sources:
  • Reuters: Unique: NVIDIA’s new China-focused AI chip set to be offered at comparable value to Huawei product
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: New NVIDIA AI GPUs designed to get round U.S. export bans come to China — H20, L20, and L2 to fill void left by restricted fashions

July 2024

July 22: Reuters reported that NVIDIA is creating a brand new GPU for the China market based mostly on its Blackwell chips. Sources informed Reuters that the chip could be a model of the Blackwell B200. NVIDIA didn’t publicly disclose the specs. 

• Sources:
  • Reuters: Unique: NVIDIA getting ready model of recent flagship AI chip for Chinese language market
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA getting ready a China-focused variant of its B200 Blackwell AI GPU to adjust to US export rules
  • HPCWire: NVIDIA Prepares New AI Chip for China Amid Ongoing US Export Controls

December 2024

December 2: The US authorities expanded guidelines that restrict the export of excessive reminiscence bandwidth (HBM) and superior semiconductor gear. 

The Middle for Strategic & Worldwide Research defined the brand new guidelines on HBM: 

“The December 2024 controls change that by adopting for the primary time country-wide restrictions on the export of superior HBM to China in addition to an end-use and end-user controls on the sale of even much less superior variations of HBM. The purpose of those controls is, unsurprisingly, to degrade China’s AI trade.” […]

“Fashionable AI chips not solely require lots of reminiscence capability but in addition a unprecedented quantity of reminiscence bandwidth. Bandwidth refers back to the quantity of information a pc’s reminiscence can switch to the processor (or different elements) in a given period of time. With low-bandwidth reminiscence, the processing energy of the AI chip typically sits round doing nothing whereas it waits for the mandatory information to be retrieved from (or saved in) reminiscence and dropped at the processor’s computing sources.”

2025 GPU Export Controls

January 2025

January 13: The US authorities tightened its export controls by introducing nationwide chip caps for a lot of nations, aside from 18 allies. The brand new restrictions could be referred to as the AI Diffusion Rule. The rule would go into impact in Could 2025.  

• “It is mindless for the Biden White Home to regulate on a regular basis datacenter computer systems and expertise that’s already in gaming PCs worldwide, disguised as an anti-China transfer. The intense ‘nation cap’ coverage will have an effect on mainstream computer systems in nations all over the world, doing nothing to advertise nationwide safety however moderately pushing the world to different applied sciences. AI is mainstream computing – ubiquitous and important as electrical energy. This last-minute Biden Administration coverage could be a legacy that will likely be criticized by U.S. trade and the worldwide neighborhood. We’d encourage President Biden to not preempt incoming President Trump by enacting a coverage that can solely hurt the U.S. financial system, set America again, and play into the arms of U.S. adversaries.” – Ned Finkle, Vice President of Authorities Affairs, NVIDIA, to Bloomberg (Twitter hyperlink)

February 2025

February 26: NVIDIA filed its 10-Okay annual report with the SEC. Within the 10-Okay, NVIDIA revealed that Singapore was the second-largest geographical income in 2024, behind the US. Taiwan was third, and China was fourth.

Inside the report, NVIDIA mentioned: 

“Singapore represented 18% of fiscal 12 months 2025 complete income based mostly upon buyer billing location. Clients use Singapore to centralize invoicing whereas our merchandise are nearly at all times shipped elsewhere. Shipments to Singapore had been lower than 2% of fiscal 12 months 2025 complete income.”

February 27: Hypothesis started about AI GPUs being smuggled from Singapore to China. In late February, authorities in Singapore arrested three individuals for fraud involving servers that will comprise AI GPUs. Singapore’s authorities granted the three individuals bail a couple of weeks later.

NVIDIA declined to remark to CNBC. 

• Sources:
  • ChannelNewsAsia: 3 males charged with fraud, circumstances linked to alleged motion of Nvidia chips
  • CNBC: NVIDIA’s unofficial exports to China face scrutiny after arrest of silicon smugglers in Singapore
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: Singapore police bust main ring smuggling NVIDIA GPUs to China-based DeepSeek: Report
  • TechCrunch: Singapore grants bail for NVIDIA chip smugglers in alleged $390M fraud

April 2025

April 9: NPR reported that the US authorities wouldn’t add export controls for the H20 chip after NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended a dinner at Mar-A-Lago. The dinner reportedly value $1 million per head. The outlet mentioned it was unclear whether or not Jensen Huang met with US President Trump straight. 

NVIDIA declined to remark to NPR.

• Sources:
  • NPR: Trump administration backs off NVIDIA H20 chip crackdown after Mar-a-Lago dinner

April 15: In a SEC submitting, NVIDIA mentioned the US authorities despatched the corporate new export guidelines on April 9. In accordance with NVIDIA, the H20 and all chips with the H20’s reminiscence bandwidth or interconnect bandwidth will now want licenses to export to China. NVIDIA mentioned the brand new guidelines would value the corporate $5.5 billion in prices because of present H20 chip stock and prior gross sales. NVIDIA declined to remark additional to the BBC. 

• Sources: 
  • NVIDIA Kind 8-Okay
  • BBC: NVIDIA shares plunge amid $5.5bn hit over export guidelines to China
  • NPR: NVIDIA discloses that U.S. will restrict gross sales of superior chips to China in any case
  • Reuters: US points export licensing necessities for NVIDIA, AMD chips to China

April 16: The US authorities launched an investigative report on DeepSeek and requested data from NVIDIA about its AI GPUs. By a letter despatched to NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, the US authorities requested NVIDIA for an inventory of its prospects in China and plenty of nations in Asia, together with Singapore. The federal government requested all communication between NVIDIA and DeepSeek. 

The US Division of Commerce confirmed that it has issued new export management guidelines for AI chips. The Commerce Division offered an announcement to The Wall Road Journal: 

“The Commerce Division is issuing new export licensing necessities on the NVIDIA H20, AMD MI308, and their equivalents.”

April 28: The Wall Road Journal reported that Huawei is predicted to launch its new AI chip, the Ascend 910D, quickly. In accordance with the Wall Road Journal’s sources, Huawei expects the Ascend 910D to be about as highly effective as an NVIDIA H100. 

• Sources:
  • The Wall Road Journal: China’s Huawei Develops New AI Chip, Looking for to Match NVIDIA 
  • NetworkWorld: Huawei steps up AI chip race with Ascend 910D, focusing on NVIDIA’s excessive floor

April 30: Anthropic, an AI startup backed by Amazon, referred to as on the US authorities to extend export management restrictions to China. As a part of a weblog publish, Anthropic mentioned the federal government wants to enhance its export enforcement to cut back smuggling. The corporate cited examples of chips being smuggled with “prosthetic child bumps” and “dwell lobsters.”

In a response, NVIDIA mentioned: 

“American companies ought to concentrate on innovation and rise to the problem, moderately than inform tall tales that giant, heavy, and delicate electronics are by some means smuggled in ‘child bumps’ or ‘alongside dwell lobsters.’” – NVIDIA to CNBC

Could 2025

Could 1: Jensen Huang spoke with the Home International Affairs Committee to debate home manufacturing and the significance of AI. NVIDIA posted the remarks on-line.

Could 7: Following a report in Bloomberg, the US Division of Commerce confirmed that it’ll not implement the AI Diffusion Rule that was created in the course of the prior administration. The rule would have gone into impact on Could 15, 2025. 

The Division of Commerce launched an announcement to CNBC: 

“The Biden AI rule is overly advanced, overly bureaucratic, and would stymie American innovation. We will likely be changing it with a a lot easier rule that unleashes American innovation and ensures American AI dominance.” 

NVIDIA launched a assertion: 

“We welcome the Administration’s management and new route on AI coverage. With the AI Diffusion Rule revoked, America can have a once-in-a-generation alternative to guide the subsequent industrial revolution and create high-paying U.S. jobs, construct new U.S.-supplied infrastructure, and alleviate the commerce deficit.”

• Sources: 
  • Bloomberg: Trump to Rescind International Chip Curbs, Prep New AI Restrictions
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA celebrates dumping of Biden-era AI chip export guidelines — easier new coverage promised
  • CNBC: Trump administration set to finish Biden’s U.S. chip export restrictions
  • NVIDIA Twitter Account

Could 9: Reuters reported that NVIDIA is getting ready a lower down model of the H20 for the Chinese language market. Reuters sources mentioned the chip could be prepared in July. NVIDIA declined to remark. 

• Sources: 
  • Reuters: Unique: NVIDIA modifies H20 chip for China to beat US export controls, sources say
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA readies cut-down HGX H20 GPU for China to adjust to export management guidelines

Could 13: The US authorities formally rescinded the earlier administration’s AI Diffusion Rule, which was introduced in January 2025. The federal government additionally introduced actions to strengthen export controls for AI chips, together with restrictions on utilizing a number of Huawei Ascend chips

NVIDIA declined to remark to CNBC on the brand new export restrictions. 

Could 15: A bipartisan group of legislators launched the Chip Safety Act that’s meant to cease smuggling of high-end AI chips. 

The Hill summarized the proposed laws: “The laws, titled the Chips Safety Act, would require firms to make sure the location-verification talents of their high-end AI chips and to report when a product has been diverted or modified location. It follows current experiences of elevated smuggling of chips, together with these made by NVIDIA, into China regardless of tight export controls.”

NVIDIA declined to remark to The Register.

• Sources: 
  • Chip Safety Act textual content
  • The Hill: Bipartisan Home lawmakers suggest invoice to ‘cease smuggling’ of AI chips
  • Reuters: U.S. lawmakers introduce invoice to handle AI chip smuggling
  • The Register: Plan to maintain superior chips from China with monitoring tech positive factors help in Congress

Could 16: The Monetary Instances reported that NVIDIA intends to create a analysis and design middle in Shanghai. 

• “We aren’t sending any GPU designs to China to be modified to adjust to export controls.” – NVIDIA to CNBC 

• Sources: 
  • Monetary Instances: NVIDIA plans Shanghai analysis centre in new dedication to China
  • CNBC: NVIDIA says it isn’t sending GPU designs to China after experiences of recent Shanghai operation

Could 19: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang informed Bloomberg in a TV interview that he didn’t see any “proof” of any AI chip diversion. Tom’s {Hardware} summarized Jensen Huang’s quote: 

“Governments perceive that diversion isn’t allowed, and there’s no proof of any AI chip diversion — acknowledge our information middle GPUs are huge; these are huge methods. The Grace Blackwell system is almost two tons, and so that you’re not going to be delivery — you’re not going to be placing that in your pocket or your backpack anytime quickly. And so, these methods are pretty simple to maintain observe of… however the necessary factor is that the nations and the businesses that we promote to acknowledge that diversion isn’t allowed, and everyone wish to proceed to purchase NVIDIA expertise, and they also very properly monitor themselves very fastidiously they usually’re fairly cautious about that.”

• Sources:
  • Bloomberg: NVIDIA CEO Says ‘No Proof of Any AI Chip Diversion’
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says ‘There’s no proof of any AI chip diversion’

Could 21: At Computex 2025, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang referred to as the US export controls a “failure.” He mentioned that NVIDIA’s market share in China has dropped from 95% to 50% because of the restrictions. The Guardian quoted Jensen Huang as saying: 

“The native firms are very, very proficient and really decided, and the export management gave them the spirit, the vitality and the federal government help to speed up their improvement.” […]

“I feel, all in all, the export management was a failure.” […]

“China has a vibrant expertise ecosystem, and it’s essential to understand that China has 50% of the world’s AI researchers, and China is extremely good at software program.”

• Sources: 
  • CNBC: Jensen Huang says U.S. chip restrictions have lower NVIDIA’s China market share almost in half
  • The Guardian: US chip export controls are a ‘failure’ as a result of they spur Chinese language improvement, NVIDIA boss says
  • The New York Instances: NVIDIA’s Chief Says U.S. Chip Controls on China Have Backfired

Could 27: Reuters reported that NVIDIA plans to launch a brand new, cheaper Blackwell-based GPU for the China market to adjust to US export guidelines. 

• “Till we decide on a brand new product design and obtain approval from the U.S. authorities, we’re successfully foreclosed from China’s $50 billion information middle market.” – NVIDIA to Reuters

• Sources: 
  • Reuters: Unique: NVIDIA to launch cheaper Blackwell AI chip for China after US export curbs, sources say
  • SiliconANGLE: Report: NVIDIA racing to develop new, scaled-down Blackwell GPUs for China

Could 28: Throughout NVIDIA’s quarterly earnings, CEO Jensen Huang mentioned the corporate was writing off unsold H20 stock because of export controls. VentureBeat posted Jensen Huang’s quote from earnings: 

“Let me share my perspective on some subjects we’re incessantly requested on export management. China is among the world’s largest AI markets and a springboard to international success with half of the world’s AI researchers based mostly there. The platform that wins China is positioned to guide globally at the moment. Nonetheless, the $50 billion China market is successfully closed to U.S. trade. The H20 export ban ended our Hopper information middle enterprise in China. We can not produce Hopper additional to conform. Consequently, we’re taking a multibillion-dollar write-off on stock that can not be offered or repurposed. We’re exploring restricted methods to compete, however hopper is now not an choice.”

• Sources:
  • VentureBeat: NVIDIA CEO takes a shot at U.S. coverage reducing off AI chip gross sales to China
  • PC Gamer: NVIDIA’s Hopper GPUs at the moment are lifeless to the Chinese language market after export controls that made the corporate take a ‘multibillion-dollar write-off’

June 2025

June 12: NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang informed CNN the corporate will now not embrace gross sales and income from China in its forecasts. In a response to a query from CNN about whether or not the US authorities would raise its export controls, Jensen Huang mentioned: 

“I’m not relying on it however, if it occurs, then it is going to be an excellent bonus. I’ve informed all of our buyers and shareholders that, going ahead, our forecasts won’t embrace the China market.” 

• Sources:
  • CNN: NVIDIA will cease together with China in its forecasts amid US chip export controls, CEO says

June 18: A number of media reported on rumors about NVIDIA getting ready to launch a “RTX 5090 DD” for the China market. The brand new card would allegedly scale back the reminiscence specs in comparison with the RTX 5090D. 

• Sources: 
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA planning new RTX 5090 ‘DD’ variant for China — 24GB card with tweaked GPU newest try to adjust to strict export restrictions
  • WCCFTech: NVIDIA Preps GeForce RTX 5090 DD For China As Export-Compliant Mannequin, Reportedly Options Blackwell GB202-240 GPU

June 23: Reuters reported that DeepSeek is supporting China’s army and intelligence operations, based mostly on an interview with a senior US State Division official. The official mentioned DeepSeek was utilizing “shell firms” in Southeast Asia to avoid export restrictions. 

Reuters included feedback from NVIDIA: 

“‘We don’t help events which have violated U.S. export controls or are on the U.S. entity lists,’ an NVIDIA spokesman mentioned in a ready assertion, including that ‘with the present export controls, we’re successfully out of the China information middle market, which is now served solely by rivals reminiscent of Huawei.’” […]

“‘Our evaluation signifies that DeepSeek used lawfully acquired H800 merchandise, not H100,’ an NVIDIA spokesman mentioned, responding to a Reuters question about DeepSeek’s alleged utilization of H100 chips.” 

DeepSeek didn’t reply to an inquiry from Reuters. 

• Sources:
  • Reuters: Unique: DeepSeek aids China’s army and evaded export controls, US official says
  • Asia Instances: DeepSeek will get NVIDIA’s high-end GPUs by way of Singapore: US official

June 26: The Data reported that DeepSeek’s subsequent AI mannequin has been delayed because of a scarcity of NVIDIA AI GPUs in China. 

• Sources:
  • The Data: DeepSeek’s Progress Stalled by U.S. Export Controls
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: AI disruptor DeepSeek’s next-gen mannequin delayed by NVIDIA GPU export restrictions to China — brief provide of AI GPUs hinders improvement

July 2025

July 4: Bloomberg reported the US Division of Commerce is getting ready a brand new export controls rule that may limit the export of AI chips to Malaysia and Thailand. The rule’s purpose could be to cut back AI chip smuggling to China. Based mostly on its sources, Bloomberg mentioned the export controls rule had not but been finalized.  

• Sources: 
  • Bloomberg: US Plans AI Chip Curbs on Malaysia, Thailand Over China Issues

July 10: Bloomberg reported that NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang met with US President Donald Trump on the White Home earlier than touring abroad to China. NVIDIA didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Reuters. 

• Sources: 
  • Bloomberg: NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang Meets with Trump Forward of CEO’s China Journey
  • Reuters: NVIDIA CEO Huang to fulfill Trump earlier than China journey, supply says
  • CNBC: Trump hosts Jensen Huang at White Home as NVIDIA tops $4 trillion market cap

July 11: In a public letter, a bipartisan group of US senators requested NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to keep away from assembly with Chinese language firms in an upcoming China journey that violate US legal guidelines or develop army purposes that would undermine nationwide safety. 

Reuters included a response from NVIDIA concerning the senators’ letter: 

“An NVIDIA spokesperson mentioned, ‘American wins’ when its expertise units ‘the worldwide commonplace,’ and that China has one of many largest our bodies of software program builders on the planet. AI software program ‘ought to run finest on the U.S. expertise stack, encouraging nations worldwide to decide on America,’ the spokesperson mentioned.” 

July 14: NVIDIA mentioned it could quickly resume gross sales of the H20 for patrons in China. NVIDIA offered the next replace in a weblog publish: 

“[Jensen] Huang additionally offered an replace to prospects, noting that NVIDIA is submitting purposes to promote the NVIDIA H20 GPU once more. The U.S. authorities has assured NVIDIA that licenses will likely be granted, and NVIDIA hopes to begin deliveries quickly.”

The White Home didn’t reply to a request for remark from CNN.

• Sources: 
  • NVIDIA Weblog: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Promotes AI in Washington, DC and China
  • CNN: NVIDIA says it would restart gross sales of a key AI chip to China, in a reversal of US restrictions
  • Reuters: Chinese language companies rush to purchase NVIDIA AI chips as gross sales set to renew
  • Associated Press: NVIDIA to renew gross sales of extremely desired AI laptop chips to China

The Malaysian authorities started requiring commerce permits for all high-performance AI chips acquired from the US. In a assertion, the Malaysian authorities mentioned: 

“The Ministry of Funding, Commerce and Business (MITI) wish to announce that, efficient instantly, all exports, tranships and transits of high-performance AI chips of US origin are topic to a Strategic Commerce Allow. These powers are offered for underneath Part 12 of the Strategic Commerce Act 2010 (STA 2010), a Catch-All Management provision which requires people or firms to inform the related authority a minimum of 30 days earlier than exporting, transhipping, or bringing in transit any merchandise not expressly listed within the Strategic Gadgets Record (SIL), if the person or firm is aware of or have affordable grounds to suspect the merchandise will likely be misused, or used for a restricted exercise.

This initiative serves to shut regulatory gaps whereas Malaysia undertakes additional evaluation on the inclusion of high-performance AI chips of US origin into the SIL of the STA 2010. Malaysia stands agency towards any try to avoid export controls or interact in illicit commerce actions by any particular person or firm, who will face strict authorized motion if discovered violating the STA 2010 or associated legal guidelines.”

July 15: DigiTimes reported that NVIDIA is getting ready a brand new AI GPU for the China market, the RTX 6000D. DigiTimes claimed the cardboard would develop into accessible within the third quarter of 2025, based on its sources within the provide chain. 

• Sources: 
  • DigiTimes: Unique: Jensen Huang’s third go to to China in 2025; RTX 6000D goals for 2 million shipments
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: NVIDIA reportedly getting ready RTX 6000D for Chinese language market to adjust to U.S. export controls — fabricated on TSMC N4, that includes GDDR7 reminiscence able to delivering 1,100 GB/s of bidirectional bandwidth

July 24: The Monetary Instances reported that greater than $1B value of NVIDIA’s AI chips had been smuggled to China. In response, NVIDIA mentioned that constructing datacenters with “smuggled merchandise” was a “dropping proposition.” 

• “Attempting to cobble collectively datacenters from smuggled merchandise is a dropping proposition, each technically and economically. Datacenters require service and help, which we offer solely to approved NVIDIA merchandise.” – NVIDIA to CNBC

• Sources:
  • Monetary Instances: NVIDIA AI chips value $1bn smuggled to China after Trump export controls
  • CNBC: NVIDIA addresses AI chip smuggling, says bootleg information facilities are a ‘dropping proposition’

July 28: The Monetary Instances reported that the US Commerce Division was not going to make “powerful strikes” to tighten export controls to China. In accordance with the report, the US authorities would attempt to safe a greater commerce take care of China forward of negotiations in Stockholm.

The Washington Put up reported that a number of congressional members had warned the US administration towards loosening its export controls for AI GPUs. NVIDIA and the US Commerce Division did reply to requests for remark to The Washington Put up.

A number of nationwide safety specialists voiced their concern by sending a letter to the US Commerce Division. 

• Sources: 
  • Monetary Instances: Donald Trump freezes export controls to safe commerce take care of China
  • The Washington Put up: Trump’s retreat on China chip ban triggers coverage spat
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: Trump freeze on export restrictions to China reportedly in assist of commerce talks — White Home searching for face-to-face with Xi Jinping as dissenters warn H20 reversal is a harmful mis-step

July 29: Reuters reported that NVIDIA had ordered 300,000 extra H20 chips from TSMC because of robust demand from its prospects in China. A number of weeks prior, NVIDIA mentioned it could resume gross sales of the H20 chip to China.

NVIDIA declined to remark to Reuters.

• Sources: 
  • Reuters: Unique: NVIDIA orders 300,000 H20 chips from TSMC because of sturdy China demand, sources say
• Scorching {Hardware}: TSMC Secures 300,000 H20 AI Chip Order As NVIDIA Boosts Provide To China

July 31: The New York Instances reported that Chinese language authorities officers requested NVIDIA for details about safety dangers related to its H20 chip. NVIDIA denied having “backdoors” in its chips. 

• “Cybersecurity is critically necessary to us. NVIDIA doesn’t have ‘backdoors’ in our chips that may give anybody a distant option to entry or management them.” – NVIDIA to CNBC

• The New York Instances: China Summons NVIDIA Over ‘Backdoor Safety’ Dangers of A.I. Chips
• CNBC: NVIDIA denies its China-bound H20 AI chips have ‘backdoors’ after Beijing’s safety issues
• Reuters: NVIDIA says its chips don’t have any ‘backdoors’ after China flags H20 safety issues
• Associated Press: China summons NVIDIA over ‘backdoor security dangers’ in H20 chips

August 2025

August 4: A authorities official informed Bloomberg the US is exploring including location trackers for AI chips. Bloomberg quoted the official as saying, “There’s dialogue about doubtlessly the forms of software program or bodily adjustments you could possibly make to the chips themselves to do higher location-tracking.”

• Sources: 
  • Bloomberg: US Explores Location Trackers for AI Chips, Official Says
  • The Register: Uncle Sam floats monitoring tech to maintain AI chips out of China

August 5: In a weblog publish, NVIDIA mentioned that its GPU merchandise do not need backdoors or kill switches. 

• Sources: 
  • NVIDIA Weblog: No Backdoors. No Kill Switches. No Adware.
  • CNBC: NVIDIA says its AI chips don’t have a ‘kill change’ after Chinese language accusation

The US Division of Justice introduced it had arrested two individuals in California for smuggling high-end GPUs to China that purportedly quantity to “tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars}’ value of delicate microchips utilized in synthetic intelligence (AI) purposes.” The BBC reported that court docket paperwork say the shipments included the NVIDIA H100 and RTX 4090. 

• “This case demonstrates that smuggling is a nonstarter. We primarily promote our merchandise to well-known companions, together with OEMs, who assist us be certain that all gross sales adjust to U.S. export management guidelines. Even comparatively small exporters and shipments are topic to thorough evaluation and scrutiny, and any diverted merchandise would don’t have any service, help, or updates.” – NVIDIA to TechCrunch

• Sources: 
  • Department of Justice launch
  • Bloomberg: US Expenses Chinese language Nationals With NVIDIA Chips Export Breach
  • Reuters: Two Chinese language nationals in California accused of illegally delivery NVIDIA AI chips to China
  • New York Put up: Chinese language nationals dwelling in US charged with smuggling thousands and thousands value of NVIDIA’s highly effective AI chips to Beijing
  • TechCrunch: Two arrested for smuggling AI chips to China; NVIDIA says no to kill switches
  • BBC: Chinese language nationals charged with exporting NVIDIA AI chips to China

August 10: The Monetary Instances reported that NVIDIA would give the US authorities 15% of its income from H20 chip gross sales from prospects in China. The deal is reportedly a part of an settlement that may enable NVIDIA to amass export licenses from the Commerce Division with a view to promote the H20 chip in China. AMD could be topic to the identical guidelines for the MI308. 

• “We observe guidelines the U.S. authorities units for our participation in worldwide markets. Whereas we haven’t shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export management guidelines will let America compete in China and worldwide. America can not repeat 5G and lose telecommunication management. America’s AI tech stack will be the world’s commonplace if we race.” – NVIDIA to the Associated Press

• Sources:
  • Monetary Instances: NVIDIA and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sale revenues to US authorities
  • The Related Press: NVIDIA and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sale income to US authorities in an uncommon settlement
  • The New York Instances: U.S. Authorities to Take Lower of NVIDIA and AMD A.I. Chip Gross sales to China
  • BBC: NVIDIA and AMD to pay 15% of China chip gross sales to US

August 11: In accordance with a report in Bloomberg, US President Trump mentioned he was open to permitting NVIDIA to promote a modified Blackwell chip for the China market. The US President additionally mentioned that he has negotiated with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang concerning the deal to permit H20 gross sales in China. 

• Sources:
  • Bloomberg: Trump Open to NVIDIA Promoting Scaled-Again Blackwell Chip to China
  • The Register: Trump seeing inexperienced as he weighs deal to permit NVIDIA Blackwell GPU gross sales to China
  • NPR: Trump says NVIDIA will hand the U.S. 15% of its H20 chip gross sales to China
  • Reuters: Trump opens door to gross sales of model of NVIDIA’s next-gen AI chips in China

August 12: Bloomberg reported that Chinese language officers had “urged native firms” to keep away from buying and utilizing NVIDIA’s H20 chip, particularly for nationwide safety and authorities work. In accordance with Bloomberg, China questioned firms whether or not they had discovered safety issues with NVIDIA’s chips.  

Bloomberg included commentary from NVIDIA: 

“AMD declined to remark, whereas NVIDIA mentioned in an announcement that ‘the H20 isn’t a army product or for presidency infrastructure.’ China has ample provides of home chips, NVIDIA mentioned, and ‘received’t and by no means has relied on American chips for presidency operations.’

• Sources:
  • Bloomberg: China Urges Companies To not Use NVIDIA H20 Chips In New Steerage
  • Reuters: China cautions tech companies over NVIDIA H20 AI chip purchases, sources say

CNBC reported that the Trump Administration was nonetheless engaged on the small print for how one can implement the 15% export tax on NVIDIA and AMD for promoting sure chips to China. 

• “We observe guidelines the U.S. authorities units for our participation in worldwide markets.” – NVIDIA to CNBC

• Sources:
  • CNBC: White Home says it’s understanding legality of NVIDIA and AMD China chip offers
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: White Home confirms it is nonetheless determining the legality of the revenue-sharing NVIDIA and AMD deal for China GPU gross sales — ‘The legality of it, the mechanics of it, continues to be being ironed out’

August 13: Reuters reported that US officers have covertly positioned “location-tracking gadgets” in focused shipments with superior chips in an effort to catch chip smuggling to China. Unnamed sources informed Reuters that the monitoring gadgets had been positioned in shipments of OEM servers, together with from Dell and Supermicro. 

NVIDIA declined to remark to Reuters. 

• Sources: 
  • Reuters: Unique: US embeds trackers in AI chip shipments to catch diversions to China, sources say
  • Tom’s {Hardware}: U.S. authorities allegedly positioned secret monitoring gadgets in AI chip shipments to China — report claims focused shipments from Dell and Tremendous Micro containing NVIDIA and AMD chips had trackers in packaging and servers themselves

TweakTown: US authorities secretly place location monitoring gadgets in focused AI chip shipments to China