> At a Glance
> – Nvidia now requires full upfront payment for H200 AI chips bound for China
> – Orders are non-refundable and locked once placed
> – Over 2 million GPUs already ordered by Chinese firms in 2026
> – Why it matters: The policy shift shows how U.S.-China tech tensions are forcing chipmakers to protect themselves financially
Nvidia is tightening the screws on Chinese buyers of its flagship H200 AI accelerators, demanding 100 % payment before shipment while export approvals remain in limbo on both sides of the Pacific.
New Payment Rules
The Santa Clara company is no longer accepting partial deposits or allowing order tweaks, Reuters reports. Instead, customers must pay the full invoice amount when placing an order.
Some buyers may post commercial insurance or asset collateral as security, but the new terms mark a stark departure from Nvidia’s earlier flexibility.
Regulatory Hurdles
- The Biden administration has yet to green-light the H200 for China
- Beijing is expected to approve imports, but wants the chips kept away from military, state-owned enterprises and critical infrastructure
- A prior export clamp-down on the H20 line forced Nvidia to book a $5.5 billion inventory write-down
Demand Defies Risk
Despite the political minefield, Chinese companies have already placed orders for more than 2 million H200 GPUs this year, spurring Nvidia to boost production.
Nvidia declined to comment on the new payment policy.
Key Takeaways
- Nvidia now treats China-bound H200 orders as cash-only, non-cancellable transactions
- The move caps years of escalating U.S. export rules and Beijing’s own security concerns
- Surging demand-2 million chips on order-shows Chinese AI builders are willing to shoulder the risk
The cash-up-front stance underscores Nvidia’s drive to protect revenue as geopolitical tensions continue to cloud its most important growth market.
