Why did the US allow ZTE to purchase Nvidia H200 chips?

The decision is part of a selective approach to granting Chinese companies access to US technologies. The US maintains control over high-performance chip exports but permits limited transactions to sustain trade relations.

Which Chinese companies have already gained access to Nvidia H200 chips?

In addition to ZTE, Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD.com have received approval to purchase H200 chips. Around ten Chinese firms have been granted such permissions.

Will Chinese companies be able to fully utilize Nvidia chips?

Chinese authorities may restrict imports of foreign technologies to promote domestic alternatives. For instance, Huawei is actively developing its own semiconductor solutions.

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Hardware

US Allows ZTE to Purchase Nvidia H200 Chips for AI Development

July 15, 2026

Photo: Tom's Hardware

Quick answer

The US has permitted China’s ZTE to procure Nvidia H200 chips for AI infrastructure development. The decision comes amid trade restrictions, though supply volumes remain minimal.

The US Department of Commerce has approved Chinese telecommunications corporation ZTE’s application to acquire Nvidia H200 graphics processors. These chips, based on the Hopper architecture, are designed to accelerate artificial intelligence and cloud computing tasks. ZTE joins a limited list of Chinese companies with similar approvals, including Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD.com.

The US government’s decision comes amid strict trade restrictions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced technologies. However, exports of Nvidia H200 chips and their counterparts (such as AMD Instinct MI300X) continue with a 25% tariff. Supply volumes remain extremely low: according to CNBC, only a negligible number of chips have been shipped.

Chinese authorities have not yet commented on the possibility of importing H200 chips. In recent years, Beijing has actively promoted the development of its domestic semiconductor industry to reduce reliance on foreign technologies. Nevertheless, demand for high-performance AI chips remains strong, with reports indicating orders for over two million H200 chips from Chinese companies.

ZTE is one of China’s largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers, operating globally. The company is expanding its cloud computing and artificial intelligence divisions, which require powerful accelerators. However, the prospects for large-scale H200 shipments to China remain uncertain due to bilateral trade restrictions.

Common questions

Why did the US allow ZTE to purchase Nvidia H200 chips?: The decision is part of a selective approach to granting Chinese companies access to US technologies. The US maintains control over high-performance chip exports but permits limited transactions to sustain trade relations.
Which Chinese companies have already gained access to Nvidia H200 chips?: In addition to ZTE, Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD.com have received approval to purchase H200 chips. Around ten Chinese firms have been granted such permissions.
Will Chinese companies be able to fully utilize Nvidia chips?: Chinese authorities may restrict imports of foreign technologies to promote domestic alternatives. For instance, Huawei is actively developing its own semiconductor solutions.

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