According to The Information, the U.S. government is preparing to block global semiconductor leader NVIDIA from exporting its upgraded AI chip, the B30A, to China — signaling a major escalation in technology trade tensions.
Sources say the White House has instructed federal agencies that the B30A — considered a more advanced version of the H20 chip already permitted for sale in China — is now subject to an export ban. Although NVIDIA had delivered B30A samples to several Chinese buyers, these transactions will effectively be cancelled under the new directive.
The development comes despite the U.S. having recently eased some chip export restrictions to China. With Beijing pushing a robust AI self-sufficiency agenda, the renewed clampdown underscores Washington’s increasingly stern posture. NVIDIA subsequently stated it will exclude China from its global revenue outlook, highlighting the growing uncertainty.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang had previously suggested China might lead in generative AI given its lower energy costs and lighter regulation. But the new ban significantly complicates NVIDIA’s strategic balancing act between the world’s two largest markets.
Analysts believe the move could accelerate Chinese efforts to develop domestic alternatives and reshape the global AI chip supply chain. For NVIDIA, the policy risk in the region is now notably elevated, while China may intensify efforts to secure its own advanced chip ecosystem.