Jensen Huang Joins Air Force One After Trump Call on May 12, Raising H200 Export Hopes
United States President Donald Trump and Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang met in Washington. DC in April of 2025. (Photo courtesy of Reuters)
United States President Donald Trump and Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang had a surprise encounter on Air Force One. With CEO Huang, who was initially excluded from the list of business delegates visiting China, joining late at the direct request of President Trump, expectations are simultaneously growing for the accelerated export of Nvidia’s next-generation AI chip H200 to China, which had fallen into a deadlock. The market interprets this as the result of the Trump administration’s characteristic pragmatic diplomacy aligning with the interests of a tech giant.
According to foreign media such as the New York Times and the industry on May 12 (local time), CEO Huang, who was not on the list when departing from Joint Base Andrews in Washington D.C., boarded the presidential aircraft at the stopover in Alaska. It is reported that this late addition was arranged when President Trump, realizing CEO Huang’s absence, personally called to request his presence.
President Trump referred to CEO Huang as “Great Jensen” through social media, indicating that he will strongly demand President Xi Jinping to open the Chinese market so that the capabilities of American companies can be fully demonstrated. This is interpreted as a determination to use AI semiconductors as a core card in negotiations with China, going beyond a simple accompaniment.
The industry expects this joint trip to serve as an opportunity to cross the last hurdle that has blocked the supply of Nvidia H200 chips to China. Currently, the Trump administration has banned the export of high-performance chips in principle, but has proposed a conditional easing plan under which 25% of the profits would be paid to the US government as a fee.
The Chinese government had previously delayed the approval of H200 purchases by domestic companies under the pretext of technological independence, but it is highly likely that this summit will open the door. In fact, Reuters and others recently reported that Chinese authorities have begun allowing some companies to purchase the H200, and CEO Huang also formalized the resumption of orders from China at GTC 2026.
As this news broke, the market reacted immediately. On this day, the Shanghai Composite Index renewed its highest level since July 2015, thoroughly enjoying the Nvidia effect. This is the result of expectations for the restoration of the AI supply chain stimulating investment sentiment toward China.
However, security concerns from some in United States political circles remain a variable. This is because there is a hawkish view that advanced AI semiconductors could be utilized for China’s military buildup. A semiconductor industry insider analyzed, “Trump’s move is a clear signal that he will secure economic benefits,” but noted, “The key is how far the export allowance will expand amid the balancing act between security and the economy.”
Ultimately, CEO Huang’s addition to the visit to China is expected to be recorded as a symbolic event showing that a business compromise is possible even amidst the United States-China technological hegemony war.
Kim Eun-jin
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