Trump Refers to Himself as a “Referee” Amidst NVIDIA–China Tensions as Beijing Halts Blackwell Chip Development

NVIDIA’s ambitions in the Chinese market are facing significant barriers, primarily due to the government’s hesitance to embrace American artificial intelligence technologies. Instead, there is a clear preference for utilizing domestic alternatives, which complicates NVIDIA’s efforts to establish itself in the region.

NVIDIA’s Blackwell Chip Faces Performance Issues and Stalled China Relations

The ongoing conflict between NVIDIA and China appears far from resolution. Despite initial optimism surrounding the company’s Blackwell chip, reports indicate that the current deadlock is more influenced by Beijing’s domestic policy than by external political pressures, such as those from the Trump administration. According to CNBC Correspondent Kristina Partsinevelos, President Trump has indicated that discussions surrounding NVIDIA’s fate rest solely between the two parties, with the U. S.government acting merely as a mediator. This suggests that China is increasingly prioritizing domestic firms like Huawei over NVIDIA’s offerings.

Trump told Xi chip sales are “between you and Nvidia.”Huang must clear antitrust, backdoor H20 risks, and energy failures. By then, a source says B30A launching mid-2026 is 50% performance and a generation behind Rubin. Beijing stalling lets developers migrate to Huawei.$NVDA pic.twitter.com/El5nqbtqk3

— Kristina Partsinevelos (@KristinaParts) October 31, 2025

Over the past few months, NVIDIA has found itself increasingly sidelined in China, particularly following a regulatory probe into its H20 AI chip series. Presently, the company’s market presence in the region has dwindled to near-zero. This decline corresponds with reports indicating that the expected performance of the B30A ‘Blackwell’ chip is only half that of its more advanced counterparts, raising eyebrows in a rapidly advancing Chinese tech landscape.

Man showcasing NVIDIA GPU on stage with server racks in the background. — NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang at a showcase event

Huawei, in particular, is making notable strides in bolstering its AI chip capabilities, unveiling new products that compete directly with NVIDIA’s upcoming Rubin lineup. The company’s strategic move towards a fully integrated tech ecosystem, including proprietary High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), underscores its commitment to self-sufficiency. Additionally, other firms such as Cambricon, Moore Threads, and BirenTech are heavily investing in AI computing developments, reflecting China’s ambition to create a technology ecosystem that can rival American innovations. This shift significantly contributes to NVIDIA’s ongoing challenges in forming partnerships in China.

The possibility of NVIDIA advancing its offerings, such as by providing a more potent version of the B30A chip tailored for China, could potentially lead to movement in negotiations. However, such advancements would likely face regulatory hurdles from the Trump administration. As things stand, NVIDIA finds itself ensnared in a complex landscape of geopolitical tensions and fierce domestic competition, effectively stalling its entry into the lucrative Chinese AI market.

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