US Cleared Nvidia AI Chip Sales to Empty Chinese Office

The US Commerce Department has approved Chinese buyers for Nvidia’s H200 AI chips despite signs that some firms on the vetted list may lack legitimate operations. A New York Times investigation found that New Matrix, an approved buyer, lists an office in China that appears vacant, with little public evidence of active business. The company was created 17 months ago, is absent from the directory at its stated address, and has no record at the industrial park’s property management office. Its ownership links to a Chinese private equity firm blacklisted by the US since 2024, raising concerns that entities tied to restricted or national-security-sensitive networks could obtain advanced Nvidia chips. The report suggests the problem may reflect a broader oversight pattern rather than an isolated failure. Nvidia’s access to China was restricted under the Biden administration but was eased after the Trump administration allowed sales of H200 chips in exchange for a 15% government cut on relevant revenue. CEO Jensen Huang has pursued an aggressive lobbying campaign to restore the Chinese market, while his company has also been drawn into allegations of interference by China’s Ministry of State Security. The findings sharpen questions about whether Commerce Department vetting and Nvidia’s customer screening can prevent advanced AI hardware from reaching questionable Chinese purchasers.