China's government tells tech companies not to import NVIDIA's H200 because it is a prohibited item

Reuters reported that the Chinese government has issued a notice to domestic technology companies banning the purchase of high-performance semiconductors, including those from NVIDIA. While the US government has conditionally approved the export of high-performance AI chips to China, the Chinese government appears to have opposed the import.

Exclusive: China's customs agents told Nvidia's H200 chips are not permitted, sources say | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-customs-agents-told-nvidias-h200-chips-are-not-permitted-sources-say-2026-01-14/

On January 15, 2026, the US government conditionally approved the export of high-performance semiconductors useful for AI training and execution to China, allowing the export of AI chips such as NVIDIA's H200 and AMD's MI325X to China.

The US government has announced new rules for exporting NVIDIA and AMD AI chips to China, allowing exports of the H200 and MI325X with restrictions - GIGAZINE

However, Reuters reported, citing multiple sources, that the Chinese government is moving to ban the import of AI chips. According to the sources, Chinese customs officials have informed officials that 'H200 is not permitted to be imported into China.' Furthermore, Chinese government officials have reportedly convened a meeting of domestic technology companies and instructed them not to purchase semiconductors unless necessary.

According to sources, the conditions imposed by the Chinese authorities are extremely strict, effectively banning imports. Furthermore, the Chinese authorities have not disclosed the reasons for the ban, and it is unclear whether it is a temporary or permanent measure. The Chinese government has been considering import restrictions since the U.S. government announced its intention to ease export restrictions in December 2025, and this appears to be a renewed display of a tough stance on imports.

Reuters reported in December 2025 that 'Chinese technology companies have ordered more than 2 million H200 chips from NVIDIA. NVIDIA only has 700,000 H200 chips in stock, so it is preparing to meet demand.' However, while the U.S. government has approved exports, the Chinese government has refused to import them, so it is unclear whether NVIDIA's chip sales to Chinese companies will proceed as planned.

In addition, China is also actively working to produce high-performance semiconductors domestically, and in December 2025 it was reported that it had succeeded in reverse engineering EUV lithography, which is essential for the manufacture of high-performance semiconductors.

Reports that China has succeeded in reverse engineering EUV lithography equipment in collaboration with a former ASML engineer, and that a prototype has already been completed and that domestic production of high-performance semiconductors is imminent - GIGAZINE