[News] NVIDIA Reportedly Asks Samsung, Amkor, and Foxconn to Pause H20 Production Amid China Talks

Caught between the newly lifted U.S. export restrictions and China’s pressure on domestic firms not to use the H20, NVIDIA has reportedly asked key suppliers to pause production of the China-focused AI chip, according to Reuters, citing The Information.

As per the reports, the U.S. chipmaker told Arizona-based Amkor Technology to halt production this week and also informed Samsung Electronics in South Korea. Amkor handles advanced packaging for the H20, while Samsung supplies its HBM chips, the reports add. South Korean media outlet M Today, notes that Samsung specifically provides HBM3 for the H20.

Another Reuters report indicates that NVIDIA has also requested Foxconn to suspend production of the H20 AI chip, for which Foxconn handles backend processing.

Industry insiders note that, based on supply chain feedback, production is currently on hold, pending further developments and the outcome of NVIDIA’s ongoing discussions with the Chinese government.

Reuters, citing a statement from NVIDIA, reports that the company “constantly manages the supply chain to address market conditions.” The statement also emphasized that “the H20 is not a military product nor intended for government infrastructure. China will not rely on American chips for government operations, just as the U.S. would not rely on Chinese chips.”

The move comes after Chinese authorities last week summoned domestic firms—including tech giants Tencent and ByteDance—over their H20 chip purchases, citing concerns about information security risks, as highlighted by Reuters.

New China-tailored Chips Could be on the Way

Notably, NVIDIA is also developing other AI chips tailored for China, which could help reduce the uncertainty surrounding the H20. According to Reuters, the company is reportedly working on the B30A, built on its Blackwell architecture, aiming to surpass the H20’s performance.

On the other hand, NVIDIA is reportedly developing another China-specific Blackwell AI inference chip, the RTX6000D. Priced below the H20 with simpler specs, small batches are expected to reach Chinese customers as early as September, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Read more

• [News] NVIDIA Reportedly Develops China-Focused Blackwell AI Chip, with Test Samples Possibly in Sep.
• [News] Jensen Huang Visits Taiwan as Rubin Trial Production Nears, Six Chips Reportedly Taped Out

(Photo credit: NVIDIA)