US Export Controls on AMD's AI Chips in China: From the MI250 License to MI308 and MI325X
U.S. controls first reached AMD directly in 2019, when Commerce put its Chinese THATIC joint-venture partners on the Entity List; in 2022, AMD was told it needed a license to ship MI250-class accelerators to China. AMD developed the China-specific MI308, but an April 2025 license requirement led to an $800 million charge and an estimated $1.5 billion reduction in 2025 revenue before license reviews resumed. AMD recorded about $390 million of MI308 revenue in late 2025, but China GPU revenue was not material in the first quarter of 2026 as those orders ran off. BIS has since granted some MI325 licenses under a case-by-case policy, but AMD still does not know whether China will permit the imports, while the legal basis and implementation of the expected 15 percent payment to the U.S. government remain unresolved.
Key moments
- Jun 24, 2019Commerce puts AMD's China joint-venture partners Sugon and Hygon on the Entity List
- Aug 31, 2022AMD told it needs a license to ship Instinct MI250 GPUs to China
- Oct 17, 2023BIS tightens the chip rules, dropping the interconnect test that the China-specific parts relied on
- Apr 15, 2025New license requirement hits the MI308; AMD warns of up to $800 million in charges
- Jul 15, 2025Commerce will resume reviewing MI308 licenses; AMD says shipments will restart once approved
- Aug 11, 2025White House confirms Nvidia and AMD will hand over 15 percent of China chip revenue for their licenses
- Jan 13, 2026BIS moves the MI325X, alongside Nvidia's H200, to case-by-case review with security conditions
- Feb 2026AMD receives some MI325 licenses for China, with a US inspection and a 25 percent tariff on the round trip
- Feb 3, 2026Q4 2025: first MI308 revenue, about $390 million, and a $360 million reserve release
- Feb 3, 202610-K: the 15 percent is an 'expectation' with no regulation behind it, and could invite litigation
- May 5, 2026Q1 2026: China GPU revenue 'not material' as the MI308 orders run off
- Aug 4, 2026Q2 2026 10-Q: six months on, AMD still does not know if China will let MI325 shipments in
In numbers
Data and sources (2 points)
| Date | MI308 export-restriction charges | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2025 | $800M | New license requirement hits the MI308; AMD warns of up to $800 million in charges |
| Aug 5, 2025 | $800M | Q2 2025: the $800 million MI308 charge lands; no China revenue in the outlook |
Timeline
Earlier years show only their entries' dates and titles. Click a year heading to show the details.
202612 entries
- Report
Reports say AMD and Nvidia lobby against China export restrictions
Benzinga and Newsquawk reported that AMD and Nvidia were lobbying the Trump administration over proposed China-related chip-export restrictions in an annual defense policy bill. The reports attributed the account to Politico and sources.
- Benzinga · Sep 29, 2026 ·
“The firms are urging the administration to discourage lawmakers from including China-related chip export restrictions in the annual defense policy bill, as per the report.”
- Newsquawk · Sep 29, 2026 ·
“Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD) are lobbying US President Trump's administration to stop lawmakers from curbing exports to China, Politico reports citing sources; asking that lawmakers hold off on the China-related chip export restriction in the defence bill.”
Editor's note: The page states that Nvidia and AMD were lobbying the Trump administration to discourage lawmakers from including China-related chip export restrictions in the annual defense policy bill, citing Politico. It is dated September 29, 2026.
- Benzinga · Sep 29, 2026 ·
- Response
Lisa Su says she will attend Trump–Xi state dinner
Lisa Su said she would attend the state dinner scheduled for the following night. She said technology leaders would seek stability across the technology ecosystem.
- Fox Business · Sep 23, 2026 ·
“I'm honored to say that I will be at the dinner tomorrow night.”
- New York Stock Exchange · Sep 24, 2026 ·
“She says tech leaders will want to ensure there is 'good stability' across the tech ecosystem.”
Editor's note: The page states that Su said on Wednesday she would attend the dinner “tomorrow night” and says technology leaders wanted stability across the global technology ecosystem. The Wednesday/Thursday timeline supports the September 23, 2026 announcement date.
- Fox Business · Sep 23, 2026 ·
- Report
Patel alleges controlled AMD RFSoC was offered for China project
SemiAnalysis head Dylan Patel alleged that Puzhi Electronic Technology was crowdfunding a system based on AMD's Zynq UltraScale+ XCZU47DR RFSoC. The reports described the device as a U.S. export-controlled dual-use component.
- Primary · Sep 19, 2026 ·
“Dylan Patel, who founded the chip research firm SemiAnalysis, made the assertion on September 19, 2026, in a public post on X.”
- Tom’s Hardware · Sep 24, 2026 ·
“Dylan Patel, the head of top semiconductor analysis company SemiAnalysis, has discovered that China's Puzhi Electronic Technology is crowdfunding development of a system based on AMD's Zync UltraScale+ XCZU47DR RFSoC, which is a U.S. export-controlled dual-use component.”
was answered by AMD denies direct sale or shipment in alleged Puzhi RFSoC case.
Editor's note: The cited pages support that Dylan Patel of SemiAnalysis alleged Puzhi Electronic Technology was crowdfunding a system based on AMD's Zynq UltraScale+ XCZU47DR RFSoC. Tom's Hardware describes the component as a U.S. export-controlled dual-use item, while The Primary dates Patel's public assertion to September 19, 2026.
- Primary · Sep 19, 2026 ·
- Response
Lutnick says export-control easing is not expected at summit
AsiaToday reported that Howard Lutnick told CNBC on September 2 that he did not expect export-control easing to be on the summit agenda. NationPress, published September 3, quoted him as saying that Donald Trump had offered China H200 chips and equivalent chips from AMD and other suppliers.
- NationPress · Sep 3, 2026 ·
“President Trump made an offer to sell H200 chips and video chips to China, and they’re equivalent from AMD and others.”
- AsiaToday · Sep 4, 2026 ·
“Asked about the possibility of including the easing of export controls on the summit agenda during a video interview with U.S. financial news outlet CNBC on the 2nd, Secretary Lutnick responded, "No, I don't believe so."”
Editor's note: Repaired 2026-09-18: rejected on the ground that the NationPress page gives September 3, but the second source, AsiaToday, states the CNBC interview took place on the 2nd and is the source the date rests on.
- NationPress · Sep 3, 2026 ·
- Response
AMD denies direct sale or shipment in alleged Puzhi RFSoC case
AMD said the reported instance was unrelated to any direct AMD sales or shipments. The statement addressed the alleged use of an AMD Zynq UltraScale+ XCZU47DR RFSoC in Puzhi Electronic Technology's project.
- Tom’s Hardware · Sep 24, 2026 ·
“This recent instance is unrelated to any direct AMD sales or shipments.”
responded to Patel alleges controlled AMD RFSoC was offered for China project.
Editor's note: The page quotes AMD saying the instance was unrelated to direct AMD sales or shipments and identifies Puzhi Electronic Technology's project as using an AMD Zynq UltraScale+ XCZU47DR RFSoC. The readable page text does not provide a publication or event date supporting the stated 2026-09 date.
- Tom’s Hardware · Sep 24, 2026 ·
- FinancialKey moment
Q2 2026 10-Q: six months on, AMD still does not know if China will let MI325 shipments in
AMD's second-quarter 10-Q, filed August 4, repeated the February disclosure word for word: some MI325 export licenses had been granted for certain China-based customers, every unit would first have to be inspected in the United States and pay a 25 percent tariff on the way in, and the company still did not know whether China would allow the imports. No MI325 or MI308 China revenue was called out for the quarter.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission / AMD Form 10-Q · Aug 4, 2026 ·
We do not yet know whether any imports of MI325 products will be allowed into China.
Editor's note: Hand-checked against the Q2 2026 10-Q (amd-20260627.htm), which repeats the MI325 import uncertainty verbatim.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission / AMD Form 10-Q · Aug 4, 2026 ·
- Update
Su meets Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing days after the Trump–Xi summit, pledging more investment
At the Great Hall of the People, He Lifeng invited multinationals including AMD to deepen cooperation, citing the outcomes of the May 13 to 15 Xi–Trump summit, and Su said AMD would expand its operations and investment in China. Su had not been part of the executive delegation that travelled with Trump.
- Tom's Hardware (via Yahoo Finance) · May 20, 2026 ·
AMD CEO Lisa Su met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, pledging to expand AMD's operations and investment in the country days after President Trump's state visit to China.
- Tom's Hardware (via Yahoo Finance) · May 20, 2026 ·
- FinancialKey moment
Q1 2026: China GPU revenue 'not material' as the MI308 orders run off
Data center AI revenue dipped sequentially in the first quarter, which AMD attributed to lower China revenue after the $390 million MI308 quarter, and CFO Jean Hu said China revenue in the period was not material. AMD did not forecast further China GPU sales, leaving the MI325 licenses as an option rather than a plan.
- The Motley Fool (call transcript) · May 6, 2026 ·
I think if you look at Q1, we did mention Data Center AI was down modest pace sequentially, primarily due to lower China revenue in the quarter.
- The Motley Fool (call transcript) · May 6, 2026 ·
- FinancialKey moment
10-K: the 15 percent is an 'expectation' with no regulation behind it, and could invite litigation
In its annual report AMD disclosed that it had begun MI308 shipments at the end of fiscal 2025, that net export-control charges for the year came to about $440 million after the reversal, and that US officials expected 15 percent of licensed MI308 revenue although no rule establishing the requirement had been published. It warned that any such demand could subject the company to litigation and favour competitors not bound by the arrangement.
- AMD Form 10-K (SEC) · Feb 3, 2026 ·
U.S. government officials have expressed an expectation that the U.S. government will receive 15% of the revenue generated from licensed MI308 sales to China; however, to date, the U.S. government has not published a regulation establishing such requirement.
- AMD Form 10-K (SEC) · Feb 3, 2026 ·
- FinancialKey moment
Q4 2025: first MI308 revenue, about $390 million, and a $360 million reserve release
AMD's fourth quarter included roughly $390 million of MI308 sales to China that were not in its guidance, filled from orders placed early in 2025, plus the release of about $360 million of the inventory reserves booked in the second quarter. It guided to about $100 million of MI308 revenue in the first quarter of 2026 and nothing beyond, with Su calling China 'a very dynamic situation' and saying MI325 license applications had been submitted.
- AMD Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (SEC) · Feb 3, 2026 ·
In the fourth quarter, AMD benefited from an approximate $360 million release of previously reserved AMD Instinct™ MI308 inventory and related charges. Fourth quarter AMD Instinct MI308 revenue to China was approximately $390 million.
- The Motley Fool (call transcript) · Feb 3, 2026 ·
We are not forecasting any additional revenue from China just because it's a very dynamic situation.
- AMD Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (SEC) · Feb 3, 2026 ·
- RegulatoryKey moment
AMD receives some MI325 licenses for China, with a US inspection and a 25 percent tariff on the round trip
AMD's first-quarter 10-Q disclosed that in February 2026 the US government granted some licenses to ship MI325 products to certain China-based customers under the January policy. Each chip must first pass an inspection in the United States, which makes it subject to a 25 percent tariff on importation for that inspection, and AMD said it did not yet know whether China would allow the imports.
- AMD Form 10-Q (SEC) · May 6, 2026 ·
In February 2026, the U.S. government granted us some export licenses authorizing us to ship our AMD Instinct MI325 products to certain China-based customers. We do not yet know whether any imports of MI325 products will be allowed into China.
result of BIS moves H200 and MI325X exports to China to case-by-case review with security conditions on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200.
- AMD Form 10-Q (SEC) · May 6, 2026 ·
- RegulatoryKey moment
BIS moves the MI325X, alongside Nvidia's H200, to case-by-case review with security conditions
Following Trump's December 8 decision to allow H200-class sales to approved Chinese customers, BIS revised its licensing policy so that applications for the H200, the AMD MI325X and similar chips are reviewed case by case rather than under a presumption of denial. Applicants must show exports will not shrink capacity available to US customers, that the buyer screens its own customers, and that the chips pass independent third-party testing in the United States.
- Bureau of Industry and Security · Jan 13, 2026 ·
BIS will now review export license applications for the Nvidia H200, AMD MI325X, and similar chips on a case-by-case basis provided certain security requirements are met.
result of Trump allows H200 sales to approved Chinese customers with a 25 percent cut for the US on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200.
- Bureau of Industry and Security · Jan 13, 2026 ·
202511 entries
- Report
Alibaba weighs an order of 40,000 to 50,000 MI308 chips
Reports citing people familiar with the talks said Alibaba was considering buying 40,000 to 50,000 MI308 accelerators, priced around $12,000 each and roughly 15 percent below Nvidia's H20, in what would be AMD's largest China AI deal since the controls began. AMD had excluded MI308 from its guidance, so any order would be upside.
- TechNode · Dec 23, 2025 ·
Alibaba Group is considering purchasing 40,000 to 50,000 MI308 AI accelerators from AMD, according to people familiar with the matter.
- TechNode · Dec 23, 2025 ·
- Update
Su's Beijing trip: meetings with the industry ministry and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao
Over two days in Beijing, Su met MIIT minister Li Lecheng, affirming AMD's commitment to deepening its investment in China, and then Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, whose ministry said the two sides discussed AMD's business development in China and strengthening cooperation. The visit came as MI308 shipments were about to start and as Beijing was steering buyers away from Nvidia's China parts.
- Reuters (via WKZO) · Dec 19, 2025 ·
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with U.S. computer processor manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices’ CEO Lisa Su in Beijing on Thursday, according to a statement released by Wang’s ministry on Friday.
- South China Morning Post · Dec 17, 2025 ·
Lisa Su, chair and chief executive of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), on Wednesday met the Chinese minister of industry and information technology (MIIT), where she affirmed the US chipmaker’s “commitment to deepening its investments” in China, the ministry said.
- Reuters (via WKZO) · Dec 19, 2025 ·
- Announcement
Su: AMD holds MI308 licenses and is prepared to pay the 15 percent
Speaking at a Wired conference in San Francisco, Su said AMD had licenses to ship some MI308 chips to China and would pay the 15 percent levy if it shipped them, the company's first direct public acceptance of the arrangement.
- Reuters (via Yahoo Finance) · Dec 5, 2025 ·
Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su on Thursday said the company has licenses to ship some of its MI 308 chips to China and is prepared to pay a 15% tax to the U.S. government if it ships them.
- Reuters (via Yahoo Finance) · Dec 5, 2025 ·
- Report
Reuters reports China guidance on domestic AI chips at state-funded centers
Reuters reported that Chinese government guidance required new state-funded data-center projects to use domestically made AI chips. Reuters identified AMD as a foreign supplier of data-center chips and said the issuing regulators and nationwide scope were unclear.
- Reuters, via TradingView · Nov 5, 2025 ·
“The Chinese government has issued guidance requiring new data centre projects that have received any state funds to only use domestically-made artificial intelligence chips, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.”
Editor's note: The page supports the summary, including the domestic-chip guidance, AMD's status as a foreign supplier, and the uncertainty over the issuing regulators and nationwide scope. No publication or event date is visible in the readable page text, so the stated date cannot be verified from this page.
- Reuters, via TradingView · Nov 5, 2025 ·
- Financial
Q3 2025: some MI308 licenses received, but still no China revenue booked or guided
AMD reported record revenue with no MI308 shipments to China in the quarter and none assumed for the fourth quarter. On the call Su said the company had received some MI308 licenses and thanked the administration, but called the situation too dynamic to forecast, with customer demand and China's own import stance still unclear.
- AMD Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (SEC) · Nov 4, 2025 ·
Our third quarter results did not include any revenue from shipments of AMD Instinct™ MI308 GPU products to China.
- Yahoo Finance (call transcript) · Nov 4, 2025 ·
We have received some licenses for MI308, so we're appreciative of the administration supporting some licenses for MI308.
- AMD Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (SEC) · Nov 4, 2025 ·
- Response
Six senators urge Trump to reverse AMD and Nvidia China chip arrangement
Six U.S. senators wrote to President Donald Trump asking him to reverse the arrangement allowing AMD and Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to the People's Republic of China for a fee. The letter said the sales conflicted with U.S. national-security interests and questioned the fee's legal basis.
- U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Charles Schumer, Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons and Elizabeth Warren · Aug 15, 2025 ·
“We write to urge you to reverse your decision to allow AMD and Nvidia to sell advanced AI semiconductor chips (“covered chips”) to the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), in exchange for a fee.”
responded to White House confirms Nvidia and AMD will hand over 15 percent of China chip revenue for their licenses. responded to Nvidia and AMD to pay the US government 15 percent of H20 and MI308 revenue from China on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200.
Editor's note: The readable three-page letter is dated August 15, 2025 and is signed by six senators. It urges President Trump to reverse the AMD/Nvidia chip-sales arrangement, says it conflicts with national-security interests, and questions the fee's legality.
- U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Charles Schumer, Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons and Elizabeth Warren · Aug 15, 2025 ·
- RegulatoryKey moment
White House confirms Nvidia and AMD will hand over 15 percent of China chip revenue for their licenses
After the Financial Times reported the arrangement, a White House official confirmed to CBS News that Nvidia and AMD had agreed to pay the US government 15 percent of revenue from H20 and MI308 sales in China as a condition of the export licenses granted the previous week. No regulation was published, a point AMD would later flag to investors.
- CBS News · Aug 11, 2025 ·
U.S. chipmakers Nvidia and AMD will pay the U.S. government 15% of revenue generated by sales of their AI chips in China, a White House official confirmed to CBS News.
was answered by Six senators urge Trump to reverse AMD and Nvidia China chip arrangement.
- CBS News · Aug 11, 2025 ·
- Financial
Q2 2025: the $800 million MI308 charge lands; no China revenue in the outlook
AMD booked roughly $800 million of inventory and related charges for the MI308, cutting non-GAAP gross margin to 43 percent from about 54 percent otherwise. Data center revenue still grew 14 percent on EPYC demand, and the company excluded any MI308 revenue from its third-quarter guidance while the licenses were under review.
- AMD Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (SEC) · Aug 5, 2025 ·
As previously announced, our second quarter results were impacted by the U.S. Government's export control on our AMD Instinct™ MI308 data center GPU products. For the quarter, these restrictions led to approximately $800 million in inventory and related charges.
- The Motley Fool (call transcript) · Jan 27, 2026 ·
Earlier this quarter, we were notified by the Department of Commerce that it is moving forward with the review of our license applications to export MI308 to China.
led to AMD releases $360 million of reserved MI308 inventory charges on AMD Instinct: From MI300X to Helios and the Gigawatt Deals.
- AMD Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (SEC) · Aug 5, 2025 ·
- AnnouncementKey moment
Commerce will resume reviewing MI308 licenses; AMD says shipments will restart once approved
The day after Nvidia said it had been assured H20 licenses would be granted, AMD said the Commerce Department would move forward with its MI308 license applications and that it planned to resume shipments as approvals came, praising the administration's trade negotiations. The stock rose more than 6 percent.
- CNBC · Jul 15, 2025 ·
The company said Tuesday that the U.S. Commerce Department plans to resume reviewing its license applications to send the products to the world's second-largest economy. AMD said it plans to start shipments once those are approved.
result of Nvidia says the US has assured it H20 licenses will be granted and sales to China will resume on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200.
- CNBC · Jul 15, 2025 ·
- Financial
Q1 2025: AMD puts the MI308 hit at $1.5 billion of 2025 revenue, $700 million of it in Q2
Reporting first-quarter results, CFO Jean Hu said the export license requirement removed an estimated $700 million from second-quarter revenue and about $1.5 billion for the year, mostly in the second and third quarters. The next morning Su told CNBC that China was a 'large opportunity' and argued for a balance between national-security controls and the widest possible adoption of US technology.
- NBC News (CNBC) · May 7, 2025 ·
AMD topped earnings and expectations and issued strong guidance, but said it would see a $1.5 billion hit this year from China export controls. Last month, the company said it would incur up to $800 million in costs from shipping its MI308 products to China and other countries.
- AMD Q1 2025 earnings call transcript · May 6, 2025 ·
This includes an estimated 700 million revenue reduction as a result of the new export license requirement.
- NBC News (CNBC) · May 7, 2025 ·
- RegulatoryKey moment
New license requirement hits the MI308; AMD warns of up to $800 million in charges
A day after Nvidia disclosed the H20 license requirement and a $5.5 billion charge, AMD filed an 8-K saying the same new rule covered exports of its MI308 to China, Hong Kong, Macau and other D:5 countries. It expected up to $800 million of inventory, purchase-commitment and reserve charges, said it would apply for licenses with no assurance of approval, and its shares fell more than 7 percent.
- AMD Form 8-K (SEC) · Apr 16, 2025 ·
The Export Control applies to the Company’s MI308 products. The Company expects to apply for licenses but there is no assurance that licenses will be granted. The Company expects that the Export Control may result in charges of up to approximately $800 million in inventory, purchase commitments and related reserves.
- CNBC · Apr 16, 2025 ·
Shares of Advanced Micro Devices closed down more than 7% on Wednesday after the company said it could incur charges of up to $800 million for exporting its MI308 products to China and other countries.
- AMD Form 8-K (SEC) · Apr 16, 2025 ·
- Dec 23, 2025Alibaba weighs an order of 40,000 to 50,000 MI308 chips
- Dec 18, 2025Su's Beijing trip: meetings with the industry ministry and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao
- Dec 4, 2025Su: AMD holds MI308 licenses and is prepared to pay the 15 percent
- Nov 5, 2025Reuters reports China guidance on domestic AI chips at state-funded centers
- Nov 4, 2025Q3 2025: some MI308 licenses received, but still no China revenue booked or guided
- Aug 15, 2025Six senators urge Trump to reverse AMD and Nvidia China chip arrangement
- Aug 11, 2025White House confirms Nvidia and AMD will hand over 15 percent of China chip revenue for their licenses
- Aug 5, 2025Q2 2025: the $800 million MI308 charge lands; no China revenue in the outlook
- Jul 15, 2025Commerce will resume reviewing MI308 licenses; AMD says shipments will restart once approved
- May 6, 2025Q1 2025: AMD puts the MI308 hit at $1.5 billion of 2025 revenue, $700 million of it in Q2
- Apr 15, 2025New license requirement hits the MI308; AMD warns of up to $800 million in charges
20242 entries
- Update
Lisa Su meets Wang Wentao in Beijing
Lisa Su met Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing to discuss China-U.S. trade relations and AMD's development in China. Su said China was one of AMD's global strategic priorities and that AMD would increase investment and work with local partners.
- Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China · Mar 25, 2024 ·
“3月24日，商务部部长王文涛会见美国AMD半导体公司董事会主席兼首席执行官苏姿丰。”
Editor's note: The page states that on March 24, Minister Wang Wentao met AMD Chair and CEO Lisa Su, and that they discussed China-U.S. economic and trade relations and AMD's development in China. It also says Su described China as a global strategic priority and said AMD would continue investing in China and work with local partners.
- Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China · Mar 25, 2024 ·
- Report
Bloomberg: AMD's made-for-China accelerator is still too fast and will need a license
Bloomberg reported that the Commerce Department had declined to clear AMD's cut-down AI chip for sale in China because it remained too capable, meaning AMD would have to apply for a BIS license rather than ship under the notification route. The report was the first public sign that the MI308 would live or die by license decisions.
- CNBC · Mar 5, 2024 ·
American semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices has failed in getting a made-for-China AI chip past U.S. regulators and will need to apply for an export license, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
- CNBC · Mar 5, 2024 ·
- Mar 24, 2024Lisa Su meets Wang Wentao in Beijing
- Mar 5, 2024Bloomberg: AMD's made-for-China accelerator is still too fast and will need a license
20232 entries
- RegulatoryKey moment
BIS tightens the chip rules, dropping the interconnect test that the China-specific parts relied on
The October 2023 update replaced the interconnect-bandwidth parameter with a total processing performance and performance density test, closing the loophole that Nvidia's A800 and H800 had used, and added a notification requirement for chips just under the line. AMD's MI300 family fell above the new threshold, so any China part would have to be cut down much further.
- Bureau of Industry and Security · Oct 17, 2023 ·
Based on public comments, recent technological developments, and analysis of the prior rule's national security impact, the AC/S IFR removes 'interconnect bandwidth' as a parameter for identifying restricted chips.
- Bureau of Industry and Security · Oct 17, 2023 ·
- Announcement
Lisa Su: China is an 'important' market and AMD sees room for a compliant AI chip
On the second-quarter 2023 call, as AMD prepared to ramp the MI300, Su said the company would be fully compliant with US export controls but saw an opportunity to develop an accelerator specifically for Chinese customers, following Nvidia's A800 and H800 and Intel's Gaudi variant. That product became the MI308.
- CNBC · Aug 2, 2023 ·
Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, said on an earnings call late Tuesday that China is an "important" market and that the semiconductor giant wants to be fully compliant with U.S. export controls.
result of Nvidia ships an export-legal H100, the H800, to Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200.
- CNBC · Aug 2, 2023 ·
- Oct 17, 2023BIS tightens the chip rules, dropping the interconnect test that the China-specific parts relied on
- Aug 1, 2023Lisa Su: China is an 'important' market and AMD sees room for a compliant AI chip
20222 entries
- Regulatory
BIS publishes the October 2022 rules on advanced computing chips and chipmaking tools
The Commerce Department turned the August letters into a published rule: advanced computing chips above a performance and interconnect threshold, the supercomputers they feed and the equipment to make them all needed licenses for China. The thresholds caught the MI250 class and set the ceiling under which AMD, Nvidia and Intel would design China-specific parts.
- Bureau of Industry and Security · Oct 7, 2022 ·
The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is implementing a series of targeted updates to its export controls as part of BIS's ongoing efforts to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
- Bureau of Industry and Security · Oct 7, 2022 ·
- RegulatoryKey moment
AMD told it needs a license to ship Instinct MI250 GPUs to China
Days after Nvidia disclosed a license requirement for the A100 and H100, AMD confirmed it had received a similar notice covering the Instinct MI250 and MI250X, while the older MI100 was unaffected. AMD said the impact on its data center business would be marginal, since most of its compute GPUs went into US and European supercomputers, and disclosed the requirement in its third-quarter 10-Q.
- Tom's Hardware · Sep 1, 2022 ·
AMD has notified its Chinese operations that from now on, it will have to obtain an export license from the U.S. Department of Commerce to sell its Instinct MI250 and MI250X compute GPUs to Chinese clients, reports Nikkei citing two sources familiar with the matter. AMD has confirmed to Nikkei that it had received an alert from the DoC about a new export requirement for high-end compute GPUs.
- AMD Form 10-Q (SEC) · Nov 2, 2022 ·
Further, BIS has issued new requirements that prevent us from shipping MI250 and MI250X integrated circuits to China and Russia without a license, and BIS may possibly issue new licensing requirements in the future.
- Tom's Hardware · Sep 1, 2022 ·
- Oct 7, 2022BIS publishes the October 2022 rules on advanced computing chips and chipmaking tools
- Aug 31, 2022AMD told it needs a license to ship Instinct MI250 GPUs to China
20191 entry
- RegulatoryKey moment
Commerce puts AMD's China joint-venture partners Sugon and Hygon on the Entity List
The Bureau of Industry and Security added Sugon, the Wuxi Jiangnan Institute of Computing Technology, Higon and the two Chengdu Haiguang companies that AMD had formed with Sugon's THATIC consortium in 2016 to license Zen server-CPU technology. The listing cut the venture off from US technology a week before Trump's G20 meeting with Xi Jinping, and it marked the first time Washington's China controls landed directly on AMD's business.
- Federal Register (Bureau of Industry and Security) · Jun 24, 2019 ·
Sugon also is, as further described below, the majority owner of Higon, and Higon has ownership interests in Chengdu Haiguang Integrated Circuit and Chengdu Haiguang Microelectronics Technology.
- Federal Register (Bureau of Industry and Security) · Jun 24, 2019 ·
Questions this timeline answers
Each one is an ordered set of dated entries, most of them from this page, with a line on why each step led to the next.
- Why is AMD still unsure whether MI325X can ship to China after receiving U.S. licenses?
- Why is AMD's 15 percent MI308 China-revenue payment still unclear?
- How did AMD resume MI308 sales to China after the April 2025 halt?
- Why did AMD pursue China-specific AI chips instead of simply shipping its standard Instinct GPUs?
- How did the 2025 U.S. license rule disrupt Nvidia and AMD chip sales to China?
Cause and effect
- White House confirms Nvidia and AMD will hand over 15 percent of China chip revenue for their licenseswas answered by →Six senators urge Trump to reverse AMD and Nvidia China chip arrangementThe senators' letter asked President Trump to reverse the arrangement allowing AMD and Nvidia to sell covered chips to the People's Republic of China in exchange for a fee.
- Patel alleges controlled AMD RFSoC was offered for China projectwas answered by →AMD denies direct sale or shipment in alleged Puzhi RFSoC caseAMD's statement that the instance was unrelated to direct AMD sales or shipments answered Patel's allegation concerning the Puzhi project using the AMD RFSoC.
- Nvidia ships an export-legal H100, the H800, to Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200led to →Lisa Su: China is an 'important' market and AMD sees room for a compliant AI chipAMD's Lisa Su said its planned China-compliant accelerator would follow Nvidia's A800 and H800 approach, and Nvidia had already described the export-legal H800.
- Nvidia says the US has assured it H20 licenses will be granted and sales to China will resume on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200led to →Commerce will resume reviewing MI308 licenses; AMD says shipments will restart once approvedAfter Nvidia said the U.S. had assured it that H20 licenses would be granted, AMD said the next day that Commerce would resume reviewing MI308 license applications.
- Q2 2025: the $800 million MI308 charge lands; no China revenue in the outlookled to →AMD releases $360 million of reserved MI308 inventory charges on AMD Instinct: From MI300X to Helios and the Gigawatt DealsAMD's roughly $800 million MI308 inventory and related charges in the second quarter of 2025 created the previously reserved MI308 inventory and related charges that AMD later released by about $360 million.
- Nvidia and AMD to pay the US government 15 percent of H20 and MI308 revenue from China on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200was answered by →Six senators urge Trump to reverse AMD and Nvidia China chip arrangementAfter Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay the U.S. government 15 percent of China chip revenue as a license condition, six senators urged Trump to reverse that fee-based sales arrangement.
- Trump allows H200 sales to approved Chinese customers with a 25 percent cut for the US on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200led to →BIS moves the MI325X, alongside Nvidia's H200, to case-by-case review with security conditionsBIS moved the MI325X to case-by-case review following Trump's December 8 decision to permit H200-class sales to approved Chinese customers.
- BIS moves H200 and MI325X exports to China to case-by-case review with security conditions on US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200led to →AMD receives some MI325 licenses for China, with a US inspection and a 25 percent tariff on the round tripAMD said its February MI325 licenses were granted under the January policy that put MI325X exports to China under case-by-case review with U.S. inspection conditions.
Where sources disagree or fall silent
- Whether China will permit imports of the MI325 products for which AMD has received some U.S. export licenses; AMD repeated in August that it did not know the answer.
- Whether AMD will make any further material MI308 sales after the early-2025 orders ran off, including whether the reported Alibaba order will materialize.
- How the expected 15 percent payment on licensed MI308 revenue will be imposed and enforced, since AMD says no regulation establishing it has been published and warns it could prompt litigation.
- How broadly any Chinese requirement for state-funded data centers to use domestic AI chips applies, which regulators issued it, and whether it restricts AMD’s prospective customers.
- Whether the alleged Puzhi use of an AMD Zynq RFSoC involved diversion or another unauthorized channel; AMD denied direct sales or shipments, but the reported supply path is unresolved.
What to watch next
- Nov 10, 2026 — BIS Affiliates Rule suspension is due to end If the suspension ends without further action, Entity List licensing requirements could again extend to certain foreign affiliates of listed entities and affect AMD’s China sales channels.
Who is involved
- AMDcompany
U.S. chipmaker whose China sales of Instinct AI accelerators and related export-control costs are at issue.
- MI308product
AMD’s China-specific AI accelerator, whose exports were halted by the April 2025 license requirement and later resumed on a limited basis.
- U.S. Department of Commerceregulator
Department that imposed the advanced-computing controls and has issued or reviewed AMD licenses.
- Lisa Superson
AMD’s chief executive has pursued China engagement, described the market as important, and stated AMD is prepared to make the expected 15 percent payment on licensed MI308 sales.
- Nvidiacompany
AMD’s direct comparator in the 2025 China licensing and 15 percent revenue arrangement involving Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308.
- Donald Trumpperson
President whose administration backed the H200/MI325X case-by-case licensing policy and was asked by senators to reverse the MI308 revenue arrangement.
- MI325Xproduct
AMD accelerator now subject to case-by-case China license review; AMD has received some licenses but has not confirmed Chinese import approval.
- Jean Huperson
AMD’s CFO quantified the expected 2025 revenue impact from the MI308 license requirement and later described China GPU revenue as not material.
25 more
- MI250product
AMD's 2021 data center GPU, the first AMD accelerator to need a China export license, in August 2022.
- Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of Chinaregulator
Met with Su and discussed AMD's business development and cooperation in China.
- Puzhi Electronic Technologycompany
The Chinese company linked in reports to an alleged project using an export-controlled AMD Zynq RFSoC; AMD denied any direct sale or shipment connected to the reported instance.
- Wang Wentaoperson
Chinese Commerce Minister who met Lisa Su.
- Xi Jinpingperson
His May 13 to 15 summit with Trump was cited during He Lifeng's meeting with Lisa Su.
- Zynq UltraScale+ XCZU47DRproduct
AMD RFSoC cited in the allegation and AMD response.
- Alibabacompany
The Chinese company reported to be considering an order for 40,000 to 50,000 MI308 chips; AMD did not confirm the order.
- Charles Schumerperson
U.S. senator who signed the letter seeking reversal of the arrangement.
- Chris Coonsperson
U.S. senator who signed the letter seeking reversal of the arrangement.
- Dylan Patelperson
The SemiAnalysis head who alleged that Puzhi was offering a system based on a controlled AMD RFSoC.
- Elizabeth Warrenperson
U.S. senator who signed the letter seeking reversal of the arrangement.
- H200product
Chip included in the reported U.S. offer to China.
- He Lifengperson
He invited AMD and other multinationals to deepen cooperation in China during a Beijing meeting with Lisa Su.
- Howard Lutnickperson
The Commerce secretary was reported in September 2026 to say further export-control easing was not expected at a summit, while referring to H200-class offers.
- Hygoncompany
Chinese AMD joint-venture-related entity added to the Entity List in 2019.
- Intelcompany
Its Gaudi variant was cited by Lisa Su as a model for a compliant AI accelerator for Chinese customers.
- Jack Reedperson
U.S. senator who signed the letter seeking reversal of the arrangement.
- Jeanne Shaheenperson
U.S. senator who signed the letter seeking reversal of the arrangement.
- Li Lechengperson
The MIIT minister met Lisa Su in Beijing, where she affirmed AMD's commitment to deepen investment in China.
- Mark Warnerperson
U.S. senator who signed the letter seeking reversal of the arrangement.
- New York Stock Exchangecompany
Organization whose summit featured Su's remarks and published the cited update.
- SemiAnalysiscompany
Chip research firm led by Dylan Patel.
- Sugoncompany
Chinese THATIC consortium partner added to the Entity List in 2019 alongside AMD joint-venture-related entities.
- U.S. Congressregulator
Lawmakers were reportedly being urged not to include China-related chip-export restrictions in the defense policy bill.
- U.S. governmentregulator
Confirmed the reported arrangement under which AMD and Nvidia would give the U.S. government 15 percent of covered China-chip revenue.
Changelog
- Added 1 entry: 2026-09-19 Patel alleges controlled AMD RFSoC was offered for China project.
- Linked 1 entry with AMD Instinct: From MI300X to Helios and the Gigawatt Deals.
- Linked 1 entry with US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200. Added 1 entry: 2026-09-29 Reports say AMD and Nvidia lobby against China export restrictions.
- Added 2 entries: 2026-09 AMD denies direct sale or shipment in alleged Puzhi RFSoC case; 2026-09-23 Lisa Su says she will attend Trump–Xi state dinner.
- Linked 1 entry with US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200. Added 1 entry: 2026-09-02 Lutnick says export-control easing is not expected at summit.
- Linked 3 entries with US Export Controls on Nvidia AI Chips to China: A100 to H20 to H200.
- Added 4 entries: 2024-03-24 Lisa Su meets Wang Wentao in Beijing; 2025-08-15 Six senators urge Trump to reverse AMD and Nvidia China chip arrangement; 2025-11-05 Reuters reports China guidance on domestic AI chips at state-funded centers; 2026-08-04 Q2 2026 10-Q: six months on, AMD still does not know if China will let MI325 shipments in. Added 21 hand-verified entries by the editor.
A research pass records each dated fact with the page it came from and a verbatim quote. A second, independent pass re-opens every cited page and rejects entries it cannot confirm. The editor reviews what remains before it is published, and every change is listed above. Full method.