If you’ve been keeping an eye on the tech tug-of-war between the US and China, you might find this update particularly intriguing. A senior official from the Trump administration, tasked with export controls, estimates that Huawei will ship no more than 200,000 advanced AI semiconductors in 2025—most of which are destined for Chinese enterprises. This figure stands in stark contrast to Nvidia’s output of over one million China-specific H20 GPUs in late 2024, a statistic that has raised eyebrows in the industry.
Washington’s measures have recently tightened, with H20 GPUs being added to the list of restricted exports as of April. During a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing, Jeffrey Kessler, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, warned legislators not to get too comfortable. “China is investing huge amounts to boost its AI chip production and to enhance the capabilities of the chips it produces,” he said, reminding us all that China’s ascent in the tech arena is moving faster than many might assume.
Kessler’s call for increased funding for US export control efforts under the Bureau of Industry and Security underlines the broader challenges facing the industry. This hearing marked the first public estimate of Huawei’s Ascend semiconductor output, highlighting just how closely guarded the firm’s production details remain.
