US Implements New Restrictions on Export of AI Chips to China, Including Nvidia’s H800 and RTX 4090
The trade war between the United States and China has taken a new turn as the US government introduces fresh restrictions on the export of AI chips. These restrictions follow last year’s limitations on advanced chip exports to several countries, including China. The goal of these restrictions is to prevent advanced hardware from being utilized for military purposes in countries like China and Russia.
According to the US Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, the updated rules aim to close any loopholes that could be exploited to bypass the existing restrictions. Raimondo emphasized that these measures focus on military applications and address the national security threats posed by the Chinese government’s military-civil fusion strategy.
Nvidia, a prominent chip manufacturer, has disclosed the details of these new restrictions in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company now faces additional licensing requirements for exporting products that exceed certain performance thresholds.
The restrictions specifically affect Nvidia’s A100, A800, H100, H800, L40, L40S, and RTX 4090 chips, as well as systems that incorporate these chips such as the Nvidia DGX and HGX systems.
Interestingly, Nvidia had designed the H800 chip as a workaround to the earlier trade restrictions that hindered its ability to sell the H100 to China. However, with the latest rules, Nvidia may face challenges in completing product development, supporting existing customers, and supplying customers outside the impacted regions.
While Raimondo assured that the US government will work to minimize unintended impact on trade flows, she acknowledged that only a small fraction of chip exports to China will be affected by these rules.
In conclusion, the US has imposed new restrictions on the export of AI chips to China, including those produced by Nvidia. These measures aim to curb the potential misuse of advanced hardware for military purposes while protecting national security. Nvidia and other chip manufacturers will need to adapt to these restrictions, which may have implications for their operations and international customers.
