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The RTX 5090D V2 is a modified version of Nvidia’s top-end RTX 5090, designed to comply with US export restrictions by reducing memory and bandwidth.
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang at the Great Hall of the People Beijing on May 14. (AFP photo)
China has banned an Nvidia gaming chip just hours after US President Donald Trump concluded a high-profile visit to Beijing last week. The decision targeted Nvidia’s RTX 5090D V2 graphics card, a China-friendly version of the company’s flagship gaming GPU, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
The move came shortly after Trump wrapped up his state visit on May 15, during which he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and was accompanied by senior US business leaders, including Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang.
Chip Ban Follows High-Profile Visit
The RTX 5090D V2 is a modified version of Nvidia’s top-end RTX 5090, designed to comply with US export restrictions by reducing memory and bandwidth. It was mainly intended for Chinese gamers and digital creators, but it has also been used in artificial intelligence development due to its access to Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture.
According to the Financial TimesBeijing blacklisted the chip amid broader efforts to reduce dependence on US semiconductor technology. Huang had travelled as part of Trump’s delegation, joining the visit at short notice after boarding Air Force One in Alaska, the report said.
China Pushes Domestic AI Chip Drive
The timing of the ban also comes as Beijing continues to restrict purchases of Nvidia’s more advanced AI processors, including the H200, despite limited approvals from Washington to allow sales to China. However, access to the Chinese market appears to have stalled.
Earlier today, Chinese tech giant Alibaba unveiled a new artificial intelligence chip, the Zhenwu M890, which it claims delivers three times the performance of its previous model, AFP reported.
Analysts told AFP that the timing of Alibaba’s announcement was “extremely precise”, coming amid uncertainty over Nvidia’s long-term access to the Chinese market. The company said it has already shipped more than 560,000 chips in its Zhenwu series.
The move reflects China’s wider strategy to strengthen its domestic semiconductor industry as competition with the United States intensifies. State support has increased for local firms such as Huawei, which are developing alternatives to Nvidia’s AI chips.
(With inputs from agencies)
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