seniorspectrumnewspaper – The U.S. Commerce Department will resume reviewing export licenses for AMD’s MI308 AI accelerators after months of suspension. This decision reverses restrictions imposed earlier in 2025 on high-end AI hardware exports to China. AMD, alongside Nvidia, faced strict export curbs that halted shipments of key AI chips designed for the Chinese market.
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The MI308 and Nvidia’s H20 were developed specifically to comply with earlier U.S. export rules. However, a broader crackdown in January paused exports even of these toned-down models. The suspension cost AMD an estimated $800 million in potential revenue. While Nvidia faced a more severe impact with losses near $5.5 billion tied to H20 restrictions.
Following lobbying efforts by executives including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Washington appears to be easing these restrictions. The Commerce Department has communicated to AMD that its license applications for MI308 exports “will move forward for review,” signaling a possible restart of sales. This policy shift marks a departure from the hardline Trump-era stance, which firmly rejected any relaxation of export controls. The change also abandons the Biden administration’s “AI diffusion” framework, which sought to simplify export controls but ultimately limited flexibility.
While formal approvals are still pending, the move suggests a balancing act between safeguarding national security and supporting U.S. commercial interests in AI technology. Renewed access to China, the world’s largest AI market, could help AMD and Nvidia recover from earlier revenue setbacks and alleviate inventory challenges.
Implications for AMD, Nvidia, and the AI Market
This easing of restrictions could reshape the competitive landscape for U.S. AI chipmakers. AMD’s MI308 and Nvidia’s H20 are critical products designed to meet China’s growing demand for advanced AI hardware. Resuming exports would restore these companies’ ability to compete in a key market.
For AMD, the resumption of exports could mitigate losses and improve financial outlooks that were dimmed by the months-long export halt. The company’s $800 million projected impact stemmed largely from its inability to ship the MI308, a strategic product aimed at China’s AI developers.
Nvidia, similarly affected by the ban on its H20 chips, stands to benefit significantly if exports recommence. The company had forecasted billions in potential revenue losses due to these restrictions. Both companies may now ease production bottlenecks and reduce unsold inventory resulting from the export freeze. However, all shipments still depend on final license approvals, and the full details of the updated export policy remain unclear. The U.S. government must continue to weigh national security concerns with the commercial need to maintain U.S. leadership in AI technology.
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This development highlights the ongoing tension between trade policy and technological competition on the global stage. As AI grows more critical, the U.S. faces the challenge of regulating exports without ceding technological advantage to foreign competitors. For AMD and Nvidia, this partial rollback offers hope for a stronger market presence in China and underscores the importance of strategic diplomacy and regulatory flexibility in the fast-evolving AI sector.
