China banned RTX 5090D V2 while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was visiting

Source: Ars Technica

Ban of RTX 5090D V2

Beijing added the Nvidia RTX 5090D V2 gaming chip to its list of banned goods at customs checkpoints last Friday, according to a copy of the document seen by the Financial Times and two sources familiar with the matter. The ban was announced while Nvidia’s chief executive Jensen Huang was visiting China with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Reasoning behind the ban

The move underscores Beijing’s determination to keep Nvidia’s chips out of the Chinese market, especially the “degraded” versions that Nvidia produces to comply with U.S. export controls. The Chinese government aims to support domestic chipmakers such as Huawei and Cambricon as they strive to catch up with their U.S. rivals.

Background on the RTX 5090D V2

• Introduction: Launched in August 2023 as a version that meets U.S. export restrictions.
• Target market: Intended for Chinese gamers and 3D animators, but it has also been purchased by AI developers who are cut off from Nvidia’s most advanced products.

Nvidia’s response

Jensen Huang told Bloomberg TV on Monday that he believes China’s market will eventually become accessible to U.S. chip suppliers:

“My sense is that over time, the market will open.”

Other Nvidia products affected

Sales of additional Nvidia chips, including the H200 and the H20 (another China‑specific product sold earlier), have also been blocked by Beijing, even though the Trump administration approved sales of those chips to Chinese tech groups such as Alibaba and Tencent.