The situation in the advanced semiconductor market has taken an unexpected turn. US authorities have partially eased export restrictions, allowing a number of Chinese companies to access powerful Nvidia H200 AI accelerators. This was officially stated by Jeffrey Kessler, the US Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security.
Controlled Access
Speaking before the House Committee, Kessler confirmed the fact that shipments of H200 chips to China have begun. However, the official emphasized that shipment volumes remain "very small." The US Department of Commerce has taken strict control over the process: each purchase request is reviewed individually and in detail.
To ensure transparency, the Congress was provided with classified information containing a list of companies that have received official permission to purchase accelerators.
Who Gained Access to the Technology
Earlier, reports appeared in the press stating that several major Chinese organizations received permission to purchase chips from Nvidia and AMD. Among the potential and confirmed recipients are:
- A division of the telecommunications giant ZTE;
- Major technology players in the Chinese market;
- Companies Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance, which were previously on the list of potential buyers.
Market experts note that the export restrictions introduced earlier are often viewed as a tool of political pressure. The current decision to partially lift barriers demonstrates the complex dynamics in relations between the technological leaders of the two countries.
