H20 production was handled by Amkor Technology from the USA and Samsung Electronics from South Korea, who were responsible for key components and assembly. The freeze on orders followed statements by the US Secretary of Commerce, who called the H20 "the best on the market" and accused Chinese developers of being "dependent" on American technologies.
Chinese regulators summoned Tencent, ByteDance, and Alibaba to explain their purchases of H20, citing risks to data security. The American official's statements provoked a sharp reaction.
For NVIDIA, the consequences could be serious: sales in China accounted for 13% of the company's annual revenue, and previous export restrictions have already cost billions. The corporation emphasizes that H20 is not related to military or government projects. The situation demonstrates how geopolitics can directly affect the advanced technology market.
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Cover image author: NVIDIA. Cover image source: Adrenaline