Senator Coons investigates Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s statements on Nvidia H200 chip exports in new letter

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, pressing him for clearer answers on whether Nvidia H200 semiconductors have been licensed for export or shipped to the People’s Republic of China following a hearing where Secretary Lutnick claimed none of these chips had been exported to China. The letter follows Secretary Lutnick’s testimony last month before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. At the hearing, Senator Coons asked Secretary Lutnick whether any Nvidia H200 semiconductors had been exported to China. Lutnick said they had not, noting that while the Department of Commerce had licensed the export of the chips, the Chinese government had not allowed the sale. However, on March 17, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang commented that Nvidia had received necessary approvals from both the United States and Chinese governments and was restarting manufacturing to serve the Chinese market. “These chips are among the most powerful processors on the market today and are typically used to develop highly capable artificial intelligence systems. In light of the control that the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army exert over the private sector in China, I believe that allowing any companies in China to purchase these products presents a serious risk to our national security and economic leadership,” wrote Senator Coons . Senator Coons requested that Secretary Lutnick respond within one week and provide the number of H200 processors licensed for export to China, how many more the Department of Commerce plans to license, and how many H200 processors have been shipped to China as of April 30. Full text of the letter available below: Dear Secretary Lutnick, I write to follow up on your testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on April 22, 2026. At that hearing, I asked you whether any Nvidia H200 semiconductors have been exported to the People’s Republic of China (PRC); you responded in the negative, noting that while your department has licensed the export of these semiconductors to China, the PRC government has not allowed the sale. However, on March 17, 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a group of reporters that Nvidia had received necessary approvals from both the United States and PRC governments and was in the process of restarting manufacturing to serve the Chinese market. Your statements before the committee appear to contradict Huang’s comments. I remain deeply concerned about the export of Nvidia H200 semiconductors to the PRC. These chips are among the most powerful processors on the market today and are typically used to develop highly capable artificial intelligence systems. In light of the control that the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army exert over the private sector in China, I believe that allowing any companies in China to purchase these products presents a serious risk to our national security and economic leadership. Please reply within one week to clarify the facts. In your reply, please share the number of H200 processors that have been licensed for export to China, how many more you plan to license, and how many H200 processors have been shipped to China as of today, if any. Sincerely, Christopher A. Coons United States Senator