Despite speculation that Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell chip would feature prominently in U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two leaders did not discuss the topic during their Thursday talks in South Korea. Trump told reporters later that while semiconductors were mentioned, the Blackwell chip was not part of the conversation.
Why It Matters
Nvidia’s Blackwell chips are among the world’s most powerful AI processors and have become a flashpoint in U.S.-China tech tensions. Washington has imposed export restrictions to curb Beijing’s access to such high-end chips, citing national security concerns. The issue has become central to U.S. efforts to limit China’s progress in advanced AI and military applications.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has urged the Trump administration to ease export controls, arguing that China’s reliance on U.S. hardware benefits America. However, Beijing has been discouraging domestic firms from buying Nvidia’s current H20 chip and is instead pushing support for homegrown alternatives like Huawei. Huang recently said China’s cooling stance had caused Nvidia’s market share in the country to plummet from 95% in 2022 to nearly zero.
Current Situation
While Trump said discussions on chips were “between China and Nvidia,” he hinted that the U.S. might play an “arbitrator” role. U.S. lawmakers from both parties, however, remain opposed to granting China more access to advanced semiconductors. Nvidia has declined to comment, and China’s official readout of the Trump–Xi meeting did not mention chips, though it noted potential cooperation in AI.
What’s Next
After the meeting, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Nvidia and China would “see what’s possible.” But sources familiar with Beijing’s position remain skeptical that China will ease its stance anytime soon. Chinese regulators are said to be cautious about security risks and reluctant to accept inferior chip versions, even as Nvidia explores selling a downgraded model the B30A if approved by Washington.
With information from Reuters.
