China Approves First Batch of Nvidia H200 AI Chip Imports Amid Balancing Act

• China has approved the import of the first batch of Nvidia's H200 AI chips, signaling a shift in its technology policy.
• The approval covers several hundred thousand H200 chips and coincided with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's visit to China.
• Initial clearances are primarily for three major Chinese internet companies, with others awaiting subsequent approvals.
• The H200, Nvidia's second most powerful AI chip, has been a point of contention in U.S.-China relations, despite U.S. export approval.
• Beijing is balancing the surging domestic demand for advanced AI chips with its goal of nurturing a domestic semiconductor industry.

Why It Matters: China greenlights Nvidia H200 AI chip imports, balancing domestic AI needs with local industry growth.