U.S. chipmaker stocks jumped in late Monday trading after President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce a significant policy shift on semiconductor exports. NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) will now be allowed to ship its H200 chips to approved customers in China and other countries, marking a notable easing of export restrictions.
The announcement came after rumors circulated throughout Monday that such a change might be in the works. Trump made it official in a late afternoon post, explaining the rationale behind the decision.
"I have informed President Xi, of China, that the United States will allow NVIDIA to ship its H200 products to approved customers in China, and other Countries, under conditions that allow for continued strong National Security," Trump wrote, noting that Xi responded "positively."
But here's the catch: this isn't an open-ended free-for-all. Trump made clear that Nvidia's more advanced chips—specifically the Blackwell series and the upcoming Rubin processors—will remain exclusively available to American customers. The H200 represents older technology, while the cutting-edge stuff stays home.
"My Administration will always put America FIRST. The Department of Commerce is finalizing the details, and the same approach will apply to AMD, Intel, and other GREAT American Companies," Trump added in his post.
The policy shift matters because it reopens access to a massive market that had been essentially locked down. China represents a significant revenue opportunity for U.S. chipmakers, and being shut out of that market has been a persistent headwind for semiconductor companies.
The market liked what it heard. All three companies Trump mentioned by name—Nvidia, Intel Corp. (INTC), and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)—saw their shares climb in extended trading Monday evening. Investors clearly see this as a win for chipmaker revenues, even with the restrictions on the most advanced processors staying in place.
