As Nvidia Corp. was reported to prepare for shipments of H200 artificial intelligence (AI)chips to China before the Lunar New Year in mid-February, U.S. lawmakers are pressing the Commerce Department to disclose details of license approvals for the sales, intensifying scrutiny over the Trump administration's policy shift on advanced chip exports.
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Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Gregory Meeks on Monday requested that the Commerce Department reveal all license applications for H200 chips destined for Chinese companies and disclose any approved licenses within 48 hours of approval. The Democratic lawmakers also demanded a briefing on the military potential of chips cleared for export and allied reactions to the decision, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The intervention comes as Reuters reported earlier Monday that Nvidia has informed Chinese clients it plans to begin H200 shipments before mid-February, with initial deliveries totaling 5,000 to 10,000 chip modules—equivalent to roughly 40,000 to 80,000 H200 chips. The shipments would mark the first deliveries of the second-most powerful AI chips to China following Trump's policy shift this month allowing sales with a 25% fee.
Significant uncertainty remains, as Beijing has yet to approve any H200 purchases, and the timeline hinges on Chinese government decisions. "The whole plan is contingent on government approval," a source told Reuters. "Nothing is certain until we get the official go-ahead."
Congressional Pushback Intensifies
Warren and Meeks are demanding comprehensive disclosure including the text of any government-to-government agreement enabling the shipments and the Commerce Department's assessment of China's domestic chip production capabilities. The lawmakers want details on how many advanced chips China can produce indigenously, according to the letter.
Warren earlier this month called for Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to testify before Congress, warning that Trump's decision "risks turbo-charging China's bid for technological and military dominance and undermining U.S. economic and national security." The Commerce Department and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
Last week, Reuters reported that the Commerce Department launched an inter-agency review of license applications for H200 chip sales to China. The move represents a sharp departure from the Biden administration, which banned advanced AI chip sales to China on national security grounds.
February Shipment Timeline Outlined
Nvidia plans to fulfill initial orders from existing stock, with new production capacity scheduled to open for orders in the second quarter of 2026, according to Reuters on Monday. The H200, part of Nvidia's previous-generation Hopper line, remains widely used in AI applications despite being superseded by the company's newer Blackwell chips.
Supply remains constrained as Nvidia has focused production on Blackwell and its upcoming Rubin line. Chinese technology giants including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd. have expressed interest in acquiring H200 chips, which offer roughly six times the processing power of Nvidia's downgraded H20 chip designed for the Chinese market, Reuters cited sources.
Reuters reported earlier this month that Chinese regulators convened emergency meetings with representatives from companies including Alibaba, ByteDance and Tencent Holdings to assess demand for the H200, with officials promising to inform them of decisions soon.
Legislative Efforts Gain Momentum
The lawmakers' demands follow House Republicans' introduction last week of legislation requiring arms-sale style congressional oversight of AI chip exports. Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, unveiled the AI Overwatch Act on December 19, which would mandate congressional notification of AI chip sales to adversaries and give lawmakers 30 days to block proposed shipments.
The bill, backed by Representative John Moolenaar and other Republicans, would apply to processors equal to or more capable than Nvidia's H20. A separate House Democratic bill introduced the same week would outright block sales of advanced AI chips to China while easing license requirements for U.S. companies building data centers abroad.
Beijing Response Remains Uncertain
The policy developments unfold as China weighs its response to U.S. export approvals. Bloomberg reported on December 12 that China is considering incentives worth as much as $70 billion to support its domestic chipmaking industry, with proposals ranging from RMB200 billion to RMB500 billion aimed at reducing reliance on foreign chipmakers.
The Financial Times reported on December 10 that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently added AI chips from domestic manufacturers including Huawei Technologies Co. and Cambricon Technologies Corp. to its government-approved supplier list, marking the first time domestic AI chips appeared on an official procurement list.
White House AI official David Sacks said on December 12 that China was rejecting H200 chips, stating that Beijing wants "semiconductor independence" and aims to support Huawei. His comments raised questions about whether Trump's strategy of using chip exports as competitive leverage would succeed.
Trump announced the H200 decision on December 8, stating that chips would only go to "approved customers" vetted by the Commerce Department. The arrangement extends to other American chipmakers including Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD).
