Nvidia CEO Seeks Green Light to Sell Blackwell Chips to China, But Trump Holds the Cards

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expressed optimism that the company’s most advanced Blackwell chips could eventually be sold in China, but acknowledged that the final decision rests with U.S. President Donald Trump. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions over export controls and the strategic importance of AI hardware in U.S.–China tech rivalry.

Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Huang said he hoped that future diplomacy could unlock access to the Chinese market, though he appeared uncertain whether any deal would materialize soon. He referenced the recent talks between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping and described the meeting as positive — yet emphasized that decisions on chip exports remain under U.S. authority.

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For Nvidia, access to China is more than just another market — it’s one of the largest potential revenue zones for AI compute hardware. However, the U.S. government has imposed export restrictions on its most advanced chips, citing national security concerns about military uses and technological edge.

In response, Nvidia has reportedly been working on a version of its Blackwell architecture scaled down for China — more powerful than the current H20 chip allowed in that market, but still compliant with export requirements. Whether that type of chip ever wins approval depends heavily on U.S. policy shifts and diplomatic decisions.

Huang’s statements suggested that if export permission were granted, it would benefit both nations, citing Nvidia’s established presence in China and its role in the AI ecosystem. But he also admitted that the company is preparing for scenarios without meaningful China access, and noted that the Chinese market is increasingly turning to domestic chipmakers like Huawei as alternatives.