TOKYO: Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang said he believes China will eventually open its market to advanced US-made artificial intelligence chips, despite ongoing restrictions and growing competition between Washington and Beijing over AI technology.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television broadcast on Monday, Huang said he expects China to gradually allow greater access to high-end American chips used to train and operate AI systems.
However, Huang clarified that he did not directly discuss sales of Nvidia’s powerful H200 AI chip with Chinese President Xi Jinping or Premier Li Qiang during his recent visit to Beijing alongside US President Donald Trump.
The United States and China remain locked in an intense technological rivalry focused on artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced computing systems.
Until recently, Washington had restricted exports of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China over national security concerns, fearing the technology could strengthen China’s military and strategic capabilities.
Blackwell chips
“H200s are licensed to sell to China. But the Chinese government has to decide how much of their local market they want to protect,” Huang said during the interview.
“My sense is that over time the market will open,” he added.
Despite the easing of some restrictions, there are currently few signs that Chinese technology firms are purchasing the H200 chips in significant numbers, as Beijing accelerates efforts to build a self-reliant domestic semiconductor industry capable of competing with the United States.
Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chips and its upcoming Rubin series remain prohibited from sale in China.
President Trump said in December that he had reached an understanding with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to ease certain restrictions on H200 chip exports, a move criticised by some American lawmakers concerned about national security implications.
During meetings with US business executives last week, Xi reportedly said China would continue opening its economy further to foreign companies, including American firms.
