NVIDIA H-200 Chip Export Approval Faces Political Backlash
U.S. lawmakers and former government officials sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s recent decision to allow American tech giant Nvidia to sell its powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, saying it may jeopardise U.S. technological leadership and national security.
U.S. lawmakers and former government officials sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s recent decision to allow American tech giant Nvidia to sell its powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, saying it may jeopardise U.S. technological leadership and national security.
The Trump administration formally authorised the exports on Tuesday, overturning parts of previous restrictions imposed under the Biden administration that sought to limit Beijing’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors. The new rules are designed to permit shipments under strict conditions, including third-party testing of the chips, limits on the share of exports that can go to China, and a prohibition on military use by Chinese buyers.
Critics argue these safeguards are inadequate. At a congressional hearing, Matt Pottinger, a former White House Asia adviser under Trump’s first term, warned that selling H200 chips to China could “supercharge Beijing’s military modernisation,” enhancing capabilities in areas ranging from nuclear weapons to cyber warfare and autonomous systems.
Some Republican lawmakers expressed similar concerns, with Representative Michael McCaul saying the U.S. should not sell “military-grade” technology to China. National security fears were a key motivation for the previous ban on such exports.
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Supporters of the policy change within the administration argue that allowing limited exports supports American jobs and keeps U.S. companies competitive, while deterring Chinese rivals from dominating global semiconductor industries. Nvidia itself has defended the decision as positive for the U.S. tech sector.
Democratic lawmakers were particularly outspoken, with some describing the move as akin to “handing our opponents our coordinates in the middle of a battle,” underscoring bipartisan unease about Washington’s evolving tech export strategy.
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