US clears Nvidia H200 AI chips for sale to Chinese firms, including shell company New Matrix
The U.S. Commerce Department granted licences for Nvidia’s H200 AI processors to about two dozen Chinese customers, among them the newly‑formed firm New Matrix. Investigators found New Matrix’s office empty and its owners tied to a private‑equity fund placed on the U.S. trade blacklist in 2024. Nvidia said the Chinese military would have little incentive to rely on U.S. technology, while the Commerce Department defended its screening process.
Why it matters
The approvals could allow Nvidia to sell additional H200 chips in China, although shipments to Chinese customers currently represent less than 1% of the company’s total sales. The licences also expose potential weaknesses in U.S. export‑control enforcement, which may affect future regulatory scrutiny of Nvidia’s China business.
Key facts
- 1The Commerce Department approved roughly two dozen Chinese companies to purchase or handle Nvidia H200 processors. jpost.com
- 2One of the approved firms, New Matrix, was created 17 months ago. jpost.com
- 3Investigators found New Matrix’s listed office empty, with exposed wiring and no signs of active operations. jpost.com
- 4New Matrix’s owners are linked to Wise Road, a Chinese private‑equity fund blacklisted by the U.S. in 2024. jpost.com
- 5The licences require chips manufactured in Taiwan to pass through the United States, where a 25% tariff is applied. jpost.com
- 6Nvidia disclosed that shipments of H200 chips to China account for less than 1% of its total sales. jpost.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 5 of 5 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.