NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has emerged as a key figure bridging the gap between the US and China, surpassing Tesla’s Elon Musk in the process, according to a report from Nikkei. Huang’s influence grew when he successfully lobbied the Trump administration to grant export licenses for NVIDIA’s H20 AI chips, which are specifically designed for Chinese companies. 
This move, along with NVIDIA’s pivotal role in the growing AI ecosystem, has made Huang a favorite in Beijing, who now sees business leaders as intermediaries in managing US-China relations.
2025 started off challenging for Huang and NVIDIA as the Biden administration imposed strict AI Diffusion rules, limiting the sale of advanced AI GPUs to only a select list of 12 countries. Despite their strong criticism of the new restrictions, Huang’s company was dealt another setback when the Trump administration followed suit, blocking the sale of the H20 GPU to China. This led to NVIDIA writing off its inventory and halting production of the H20 chips.
However, Huang swiftly pivoted and launched a “charm offensive” aimed at securing the export licenses for the H20 chips. His efforts paid off when the US government reversed its stance, granting the licenses just as he was visiting China. In China, Huang continued his diplomatic work by praising the country’s AI advancements and emphasizing NVIDIA’s importance to China’s AI development. His actions have positioned him as a crucial player in US-China relations.
Huang’s approach is built on the argument that keeping China dependent on American-made hardware for its AI needs will ultimately benefit the US. This strategy has allowed him to become a conduit between the US and China, offering an alternative to the more hawkish figures in Washington who have been pushing for stricter policies. While US restrictions on AI chip exports to China are often justified by national security concerns, particularly regarding their potential military use, Huang’s diplomatic success has earned him recognition as a potential bridge between the two powers.
As reported by Lizzi Lee of the Asia Society Policy Institute, Huang is viewed by some Chinese analysts as Beijing’s preferred liaison to the US, thanks to his combination of star power and strategic importance. Despite his influence, Huang is relatively insulated from the intense business interests in China compared to Elon Musk, whose Tesla operation is heavily reliant on Chinese revenue and manufacturing.