Beijing to Big Tech: ditch Nvidia’s China-edition AI chips

China’s internet regulator has told its tech giants to stop buying — and even testing — Nvidia’s latest China-specific AI chips, dealing another blow to the US chipmaker’s already rocky business on the mainland.

According to multiple reports, the Cyberspace Administration of China has barred firms including Alibaba and ByteDance from using Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D, a model custom-built for China. Companies had reportedly ordered thousands since the part debuted in July; now those orders are effectively frozen.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called the move “disappointing” during a press briefing in London, where he’s accompanying President Donald Trump on a state visit. Huang noted Nvidia has “contributed more to the China market than most countries” but acknowledged the decision sits inside a bigger US–China agenda. He’s already told Wall Street not to count on China in forecasts, describing the last few years there as “a bit of a roller coaster.”

The ban lands just weeks after a highly unusual compromise: in August, the Trump administration agreed to grant export licenses for Nvidia’s H20 data-center chip in exchange for 15% of the profit from Chinese sales. Even so, Beijing has now urged local firms to avoid Nvidia’s AI parts altogether.

Washington hawks welcomed the tougher line. House Speaker Mike Johnson blasted Beijing as a would-be “peer-to-peer adversary,” arguing strained ties are “the fault of China.” Meanwhile, China is racing to bulk up its domestic chipmaking after years of tit-for-tat curbs — the US limiting advanced AI chip exports, China tightening access to crucial materials and, this week, opening an anti-monopoly probe tied to Nvidia’s Mellanox acquisition.

For Nvidia, the whiplash is showing up in strategy: shift investment where it’s welcome, and keep selling the rest of the world on AI. On Tuesday, the company announced £11 billion ($15 billion) for UK AI infrastructure as part of a broader wave of American tech spending tied to Trump’s visit.

What it means:

• Near-term sales risk in China: Even “de-rated” China expectations now look optimistic if customers are told not to touch Nvidia parts.
• Longer-term market split: Beijing’s push to localize AI hardware accelerates; US policy keeps choking the high end.
• Global hedge: Nvidia doubles down in friendlier markets (UK, Europe, elsewhere) while waiting to see if politics thaw.

Huang’s bottom line: Nvidia will “support the US government” and remain “supportive” of Chinese partners where allowed. For now, though, China’s message to its tech champions is clear — build without Nvidia.

The Verge, CNBC, and BBC contributed to this report.