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Nvidia CEO Huang Plans China Visit to Reopen Market, Report Says

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Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is planning a trip to China in late January as he looks to revive a key market for the company’s artificial intelligence chips, Bloomberg News reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

According to the report, Huang is expected to attend company events ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays in February and may also visit Beijing. It remains unclear whether he will meet senior Chinese officials, and the plans could change depending on whether meetings are confirmed. Nvidia declined to comment, and Reuters could not independently verify the report.

The potential visit follows recent uncertainty over Nvidia’s ability to sell advanced AI chips in China. Last week, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump formally approved sales of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China under certain conditions, raising expectations that shipments could resume. However, Chinese customs authorities said shortly afterward that the chips were not permitted to enter the country, casting doubt on near-term access.

China has been a crucial market for Nvidia, and the outcome of Huang’s planned visit could signal whether progress is possible amid ongoing geopolitical and regulatory tensions surrounding advanced semiconductor exports.

ASML Tops $500 Billion Market Value on TSMC Spending Boost

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Shares of ASML pushed the company’s market capitalisation past $500 billion for the first time on Thursday, after key customer TSMC announced a much larger-than-expected increase in capital spending to meet surging demand for AI chips.

TSMC said it plans to spend between $52 billion and $56 billion in 2026, well above analysts’ expectations of about $46 billion. The higher budget implies significantly more spending on advanced chipmaking tools, benefiting ASML, the world’s only supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines.

ASML shares rose 5.4% by mid-day trading, extending their January gains to around 24% and cementing the company’s position as Europe’s most valuable listed firm. Analysts say ASML stands out as a major winner from the AI investment cycle, alongside memory chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

TSMC’s stepped-up investment also reflects strong demand from clients including Nvidia and Apple. While ASML has forecast only modest growth for 2026 due to the slow pace of new fab construction, analysts say TSMC’s plans improve visibility for stronger growth into 2027 and beyond.

Trump’s Approval of Nvidia AI Chip Sales to China Sparks Backlash in Washington

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U.S. lawmakers and former national security officials are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s decision to allow Nvidia to sell its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, warning the move could weaken America’s AI advantage and bolster Beijing’s military capabilities.

The Trump administration on Tuesday formally approved China-bound sales of Nvidia’s H200, the company’s second most powerful AI processor, setting the stage for shipments to resume despite long-standing concerns in Washington over national security risks.

At a congressional hearing, Matt Pottinger, a former White House Asia adviser during Trump’s first term, said the administration was on the “wrong track” and argued that selling advanced AI chips to China would “supercharge Beijing’s military modernization.” He warned the chips could enhance capabilities ranging from nuclear weapons development to cyber warfare, autonomous drones and intelligence operations, urging Congress to impose stricter guardrails.

Several Republican lawmakers voiced unease. Congressman Michael McCaul said the United States should not be selling sensitive technology to a country that routinely steals American intellectual property. Democratic lawmakers were more direct, with Congressman Gabe Amo likening the policy shift to “handing our opponents our coordinates in the middle of a battle.”

The administration has defended the decision, with White House AI czar David Sacks arguing that controlled sales could discourage Chinese firms such as Huawei from accelerating efforts to develop rival chips. Pottinger dismissed that logic as unrealistic.

Under the new rules, chips exported to China must undergo third-party testing, and China cannot receive more than 50% of the volume sold to U.S. customers. Nvidia must also certify sufficient domestic supply, while Chinese buyers are required to demonstrate security safeguards and pledge not to use the chips for military purposes.

Some lawmakers acknowledged these safeguards. Congressman Brian Mast, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said “know your customer” provisions were significant. Others remained skeptical, noting the rules rely heavily on self-reporting by Chinese buyers and would add strain to the Commerce Department, which oversees export controls.

Adding to the uncertainty, Reuters reported that Chinese customs officials recently indicated Nvidia’s H200 chips were not permitted to enter the country, raising questions about how quickly shipments could actually resume.