U.S. Grants Nvidia H20 Chip Export Licenses to China Following CEO’s White House Lobbying

Nvidia shares edged higher after U.S. regulators approved export licenses for its China-bound H20 AI chips, reversing an April ban that threatened $8 billion in revenue. The decision followed CEO Jensen Huang's direct appeals to President TRUMP during multiple White House meetings.

Commerce Department officials began issuing the licenses just 48 hours after Huang's latest Oval Office discussion. The swift policy shift underscores China's strategic importance as Nvidia's third-largest market, accounting for 12.5% of Q1 sales.

This resolution comes three months after the Trump administration unexpectedly blocked shipments of the export-compliant H20 chips, escalating Biden-era restrictions on advanced AI technology transfers. Nvidia had already warned investors about significant financial exposure to the Chinese market constraints.