A US official revealed that a small number of Nvidia's H200 AI chips, one of the company's most powerful offerings, have been shipped to China.

Jeffrey Kessler, under secretary of commerce for industry and security, stated during a congressional hearing that exports of H200 chips to China have been minimal, with only 'very few' shipments made so far.This follows reports that ZTE Corp and two other Chinese firms received US approval to purchase advanced AI chips from Nvidia and AMD.The Commerce Department had previously cleared around 10 Chinese firms to buy H200 chips, but no deliveries were made at the time.

The shipments have become a focal point in the US-China tech rivalry, as Washington seeks to limit Beijing's access to cutting-edge chips that could be used for military applications.Rep.

Gregory Meeks criticized the Commerce Department for not adding Chinese companies to an export control list since October, accusing the Trump administration of using export controls as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China.Kessler defended the department's stance, emphasizing the importance of enforcing existing restrictions.Meanwhile, concerns about smuggling and loopholes were raised by Rep.Bill Huizenga, who questioned the guidance allowing subsidiaries of Chinese companies to obtain advanced chips.The Trump administration also relaxed export controls on the UAE, easing restrictions on Nvidia chips and military equipment.The article highlights the ongoing tensions and regulatory challenges in the US-China tech landscape.