US AI-Chip Export Controls to China: Status (Aug 2026)
H100, H200, H20, Blackwell, AMD MI series — a chip-by-chip map of US export controls on AI chips to China, disentangling three commonly-confused mechanisms: rules in force, the uncodified 15% revenue-share, and the rescinded AI Diffusion Rule.
| Chip / item | China status | License required | Key date | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA H100 / A100 | 🔴 Banned (presumption of denial) | Yes (denial) | 2022-10 / tightened 2023-10 | EAR 3A090; BIS 2022/2023 rules |
| NVIDIA A800 / H800 (downgrades) | 🔴 Banned (2023 rule closed the gap) | Yes (denial) | 2023-10-17 | BIS Oct-2023 rule (perf. density) |
| NVIDIA H20 (China-specific) | 🟡 License required (since Apr 2025; some granted Aug) | Yes (some granted) | 2025-04 / 2025-08 | BIS license req. (NVIDIA 8-K) |
| NVIDIA H200 | 🟠 Case-by-case + (added) 25% tariff | Yes (case-by-case) | 2026-01-15 | BIS final rule + proclamation |
| NVIDIA B200 / GB200 / Blackwell | 🔴 Banned (2026 extended to overseas subs) | Yes (denial) | 2026-05/06 extraterritorial | EAR advanced-computing controls |
| AMD MI300X / MI325X | 🔴 Banned / 🟠 Case-by-case | Yes | 2026-01-15 | Same final rule as H200 |
| AMD MI308 (China-specific) | 🟡 License required, some granted | Yes (some granted) | 2025-04 | BIS license requirement |
| ⚠ 15% revenue-share (H20/MI308) | Uncodified informal licensing condition; constitutionality contested | N/A (a licensing condition) | 2025-08 | No codifying regulation (per NVIDIA filings) |
| AI Diffusion Rule (Biden global tiers) | Rescinded, never enforced | — | Rescinded 2025-05-13 | BIS rescission notice |
Method & sources
Chip-by-chip control status and legal basis, current as of 2026-08-23. **First-party**: US Commerce Department BIS press release https://www.bis.gov/press-release/department-commerce-revises-license-review-policy-semiconductors-exported-china ; NVIDIA SEC 8-K https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581025000082/nvda-20250409.htm . Numeric performance thresholds and the Jan 2026 case-by-case conditions come from law-firm analyses of the BIS rule (Mayer Brown / Morgan Lewis); reconcile against the Federal Register text before formal citation. **Three commonly-confused mechanisms, kept separate**: (1) **Rules in force** — the 2022-10/2023-10 foundational bans (H100/A100/A800/H800), the Apr 2025 H20/MI308 license requirement, and the 2026-01-15 BIS final rule + presidential proclamation moving H200/MI325X to case-by-case plus a **25% tariff**; (2) **The uncodified 15% revenue-share** on H20/MI308 China sales — real as an informal licensing condition, but **NVIDIA's own filings state it is not codified in any regulation, it is constitutionally contested under the Export Clause, and no court ruling exists as of Aug 2026** (flagged ⚠); (3) **Rescinded** — the Biden-era AI Diffusion Rule was rescinded 2025-05-13 and never took effect. The "25% tariff" (codified) and the "15% share" (uncodified) are two different mechanisms.
Retrieved: 2026-08-23
FAQ
- What does "US AI-Chip Export Controls to China: Status (Aug 2026)" cover?
- It covers NVIDIA H100 / A100, NVIDIA A800 / H800 (downgrades), NVIDIA H20 (China-specific), NVIDIA H200, NVIDIA B200 / GB200 / Blackwell, AMD MI300X / MI325X, AMD MI308 (China-specific), ⚠ 15% revenue-share (H20/MI308), compared across: Chip / item, China status, License required, Key date, Legal basis.
- What are the sources and methodology?
- Chip-by-chip control status and legal basis, current as of 2026-08-23.
- When was this data last updated?
- The data was retrieved/updated on 2026-08-23.