Nvidia (NVDA) Stock: Jensen Huang Backtracks After China Will Win AI Race Claim

TLDR

Table of Contents

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed “China is going to win the AI race” at the Financial Times summit before issuing a softer statement hours later
Huang pointed to China’s energy subsidies and lighter regulations as competitive advantages over Western markets
China has blocked Nvidia from its market during a security review, dropping the chipmaker’s market share to zero
The CEO has been lobbying against U.S. export restrictions, arguing America needs access to China’s developer community
Trump stated Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell chips should remain exclusive to American buyers

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sparked controversy Wednesday by telling the Financial Times that “China is going to win the AI race.” The statement didn’t last long.

Hours after the FT published the interview, Nvidia posted a clarification from Huang on X. “As I have long said, China is nanoseconds behind America in AI,” he wrote.

The CEO added that “It’s vital that America wins by racing ahead and winning developers worldwide.” The quick reversal came after his initial comments at the FT’s Future of AI Summit.

Huang had warned that China would beat America in artificial intelligence. He cited lower energy costs and fewer regulations as China’s key advantages.

NVIDIA Corporation, NVDA

The original statement would have been Huang’s strongest warning yet about America’s AI position. The rapid backtrack shows how sensitive the topic has become.

Lobbying Against Export Rules

Huang has repeatedly argued the U.S. can maintain its lead by keeping global developers on Nvidia systems. He’s used this logic to push back against export restrictions to China.

“We want America to win this AI race. No doubt about that,” Huang said at a Washington conference last month.

But he also stressed America needs China’s developer base. “A policy that causes America to lose half of the world’s AI developers is not beneficial in the long term,” he explained.

Beijing has shut Nvidia out of the Chinese market during a national security review. Huang previously confirmed the company’s China market share dropped to zero.

The blockade creates problems for Nvidia’s growth strategy. China represents one of the world’s largest markets for AI chips.

Officials are pushing Chinese tech companies toward domestic AI chip alternatives. It remains unclear if China will ever allow Nvidia’s chips back in.

Some analysts believe Beijing is using market access as leverage in trade talks. Others think China wants broader access to advanced semiconductors from the U.S.

Trump Administration Stance

President Trump said Sunday that Nvidia’s most advanced Blackwell chips should stay exclusive to American customers. He added Washington would let China engage with Nvidia, but “not in terms of the most advanced” chips.

Following July meetings with Trump, it seemed Huang’s lobbying had worked. Washington agreed to ease some restrictions.

Under that plan, Nvidia and AMD would pay the U.S. government 15% of Chinese revenues from AI processor sales. Beijing’s security review stopped those sales anyway.

Trade talks last month between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping produced no chip policy concessions. The Wall Street Journal reported Trump initially wanted to discuss Huang’s request for new chip sales to China.

Top officials opposed the idea, according to the Journal’s sources. Huang was in South Korea during those talks.

Regulation Complaints

In his FT interview, Huang criticized Western regulations. He contrasted what he called excessive Western rules with China’s industry-friendly approach.

China offers energy subsidies to lower costs for developers using domestic chips. Huang said the West faces “cynicism” and too many regulations.

Nvidia hasn’t applied for U.S. export licenses to sell chips in China. Huang cited Beijing’s stance toward the company as the reason.

With China access frozen, Huang appears focused on other concerns. His energy and regulation comments suggest he’s examining structural issues beyond trade policy alone.

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