China's customs agents told Nvidia's H200 chips are not permitted

Chinese customs authorities have informed customs agents that Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips are not permitted to enter China, according to three people familiar with the matter. The directive was issued this week and effectively blocks one of Nvidia’s most advanced AI processors from the Chinese market.

In addition, Chinese government officials reportedly summoned several domestic technology companies to meetings on Tuesday, where they were explicitly instructed not to purchase the H200 chips unless it was deemed absolutely necessary. Two sources briefed on the meetings, along with another independent source, confirmed the guidance.

The H200 chip is one of Nvidia’s most powerful AI accelerators, widely used for training and running large-scale artificial intelligence models in data centers. It is an upgraded version of the H100 and is seen as critical for cutting-edge AI development.


While no formal public announcement has been made by Beijing, the move appears to signal tighter scrutiny over advanced foreign semiconductors amid ongoing technology tensions between China and the United States. Washington has already imposed sweeping export controls on high-end AI chips destined for China, and Beijing’s reported action may reflect a parallel effort to manage dependence on U.S. technology.

Neither Nvidia nor Chinese customs authorities have publicly commented on the reported ban. It remains unclear whether the restriction applies broadly to all imports of the H200 or if exemptions could be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Analysts say the development could further complicate Chinese tech companies’ access to advanced AI hardware, potentially accelerating efforts to develop domestic alternatives and reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain.