Nvidia is requiring customers in China to pay in full upfront for its H200 artificial intelligence chips, even as regulatory approval in the United States and China remains uncertain, according to people familiar with the matter. The company is not allowing refunds or order changes, and payment terms are stricter than previous policies that permitted partial deposits. Some buyers may use commercial insurance or asset collateral. Nvidia declined to comment.
China is expected to allow sales of the H200, though regulators want to limit use by the military, state-owned enterprises, and sensitive infrastructure operators. Despite the uncertainty, demand remains strong. Chinese companies have reportedly placed orders exceeding 2 million GPUs for delivery in 2026, prompting Nvidia to increase production capacity.
The tighter terms highlight Nvidia’s effort to balance strong regional demand with regulatory and geopolitical risk. The company previously absorbed a $5.5 billion inventory write-down after U.S. export licensing rules restricted shipments of its H20 chips to China.
