Trump Restricts Nvidia Blackwell AI Chip Access Amid China Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Nvidia's most advanced AI chip, the Blackwell chip, will be reserved exclusively for the United States and not sold to China or other countries. Despite earlier speculation that a scaled-down version of the chip might be allowed for sale in China, Trump's recent statements suggest tighter restrictions on overseas access to this cutting-edge technology, which is considered to be a decade ahead of competitors. Concerns from U.S. lawmakers focus on the risk that providing China access to such technology could significantly enhance its military and AI capabilities. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has noted that the company has not sought U.S. export licenses for China due to Beijing's stance, although Nvidia plans to supply over 260,000 Blackwell chips to South Korea, including major firms like Samsung Electronics. The Blackwell chip is critical to Nvidia's financial outlook, potentially generating billions in revenue next quarter, while the U.S. government balances national security concerns with maintaining technological leadership.