Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined US President Donald Trump on his visit to China, fueling expectations that the long-running dispute over sales of the company’s H200 AI chips to Chinese customers could finally see progress.
Huang’s participation in the Beijing trip was not initially expected after the White House released an earlier list of executives traveling with Trump, which included Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Trump personally contacted Huang on Tuesday after media reports stated that the Nvidia chief had not been invited. Huang was later seen boarding Air Force One in Alaska alongside the president ahead of their arrival in China on Wednesday evening.
“Jensen is participating in the summit at President Trump’s invitation to support the United States and the administration’s objectives,” an Nvidia spokesperson said
A White House spokesperson also verified Huang’s participation, noting that a change in schedule enabled him to join the delegation on short notice.
The development has sparked optimism among Chinese technology firms that Nvidia’s stalled H200 chip sales could move forward after months of delays and negotiations.
The H200 chips, widely regarded as critical for advanced artificial intelligence systems, have become a major issue in relations between Washington and Beijing. China previously accounted for about 13% of Nvidia’s overall revenue before export restrictions intensified.
A source at one of China’s major cloud computing companies told Reuters that Huang’s appearance on the trip was viewed as a positive signal that discussions surrounding the chips may finally advance.
Another source at a large Chinese server manufacturer said Huang’s participation could help accelerate progress in the ongoing talks.
Although the Trump administration approved H200 chip sales to China late last year and formally cleared the exports in January under specific conditions, no shipments have yet reached Chinese buyers.
Sources familiar with the matter said disagreements over sales conditions and regulatory approvals on both sides have continued to delay transactions.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said last month that Chinese companies were still struggling to secure approval from their own government to complete purchases of the chips.
The issue has also drawn criticism from some US officials and analysts who argue that allowing China greater access to advanced American AI technology could weaken Washington’s competitive advantage.
Chris McGuire, a senior fellow for China and emerging technologies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former Biden administration official, criticized Huang’s inclusion in the trip.
“Any agreement that permits Nvidia to increase chip sales to China results in fewer chips available for US companies and narrows America’s lead over China in AI,” McGuire said. “It is striking that President Trump continues to be persuaded to prioritize Nvidia’s interests over those of the United States.
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