Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) shares took a hit Wednesday, and the culprit appears to be a surprise restriction from China that's throwing a wrench into the chipmaker's plans.
China Effectively Bans H200 Chips
According to Reuters, Chinese customs authorities informed customs agents this week that Nvidia's H200 chips aren't permitted to enter the country. Officials reportedly warned companies against purchasing the chips unless absolutely necessary. One source described the language from officials as so strict that it amounts to a de-facto ban, at least for now.
Here's where it gets interesting: The Trump administration recently gave formal approval for the H200 to be exported to China under certain conditions. But despite that green light from Washington, Beijing appears to be blocking the chips at the border anyway.
"The wording from the officials is so severe that it is basically a ban," one person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
A Bargaining Chip Before Trump's Beijing Visit
Analysts suspect Beijing might be flexing some muscle to gain leverage over Washington ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled April visit to Beijing to meet with Xi Jinping. Both sides are trying to maintain a fragile trade truce, and this could be China's way of establishing some negotiating power.
The stakes are significant. If Nvidia were allowed back into the Chinese market, it would represent a major financial win not just for the company, but also for the U.S. government, which collects a 25% fee on chip sales.