Xi Tells U.S. CEOs China Will Open Wider as Nvidia H200 Access Remains Unclear
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 14
Xi Tells U.S. CEOs China Will Open Wider as Nvidia H200 Access Remains Unclear
14 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 14
Beijing saw Xi Jinping tell U.S. executives traveling with Donald Trump that China’s door to business will “open wider,” casting deeper bilateral investment and market access as mutually beneficial.
Tesla’s Elon Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Apple’s Tim Cook were introduced to Xi, while the White House said both sides discussed expanding access for American firms in China and increasing Chinese investment.
AI and chips remain a key test of that warmer tone: Reuters reported Washington had cleared some Nvidia H200 sales to China, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the report was “news to me.”
China still wants foreign capital even as U.S. export curbs have pushed it to build a domestic semiconductor supply chain, with local firms and Alibaba’s AI models narrowing gaps with some U.S. rivals.
Bessent said Washington and Beijing will work on AI safety protocols to keep advanced models out of non-state hands, suggesting cooperation may widen even as technology controls persist.
How secure is the Taiwan-anchored tech supply chain amid the escalating U.S.-China AI rivalry?
With China seeking tech self-sufficiency, can U.S. firms truly expect the promised wider market access?
Can rival superpowers truly collaborate on AI safety, or is it a new front in their tech race?
Balancing AI Power: The 2026 Beijing Summit, Nvidia’s H200 Access, and the U.S.-China Technology Standoff
Overview
In May 2026, a high-profile summit in Beijing between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping marked a tentative opening in strained relations, set against the backdrop of intense technological rivalry. Nvidia, which dominates China’s advanced AI chip market, stands at the center of this tension as the U.S. reversed restrictions on AI chip exports following strong industry lobbying. While China’s demand for AI technology grows, ongoing uncertainty surrounds future tech access and trade. This policy shift highlights the delicate balance both nations must strike between economic interests and strategic competition in the global AI landscape.