Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Criticizes U.S. China Policy Amid Historic Korea AI Push
Gyeongju — In his strongest statement yet on the U.S.–China tech standoff, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has revealed the devastating impact of American export restrictions on his company’s China business.
Speaking after the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, Huang said U.S. export controls have wiped out Nvidia’s dominance in China’s advanced AI chip market dropping from a 95% share to zero.
“We went from 95% market share to 0%. I can’t imagine any policymaker thinking that’s a good idea,” Huang said, warning that the policy has cost the U.S. “one of the largest markets in the world.”
China Market Collapse: $100 Billion Opportunity Gone
Once responsible for up to $50 billion in annual AI chip sales, China represented a cornerstone of Nvidia’s global revenue.
With continued restrictions on high-performance GPUs such as the A100 and H100, that opportunity has vanished and could top $100 billion by 2030 if the market remains closed.
Huang argued the policy not only hurts American innovation but hands an advantage to China’s domestic rivals, particularly Huawei Technologies, which is rapidly scaling its own AI chip capabilities.
“It’s foolish to underestimate China,” Huang warned, calling Huawei “formidable” and the restrictions “counterproductive to U.S. interests.”
US Policy Under Fire: Security or Self-Sabotage?
Huang questioned the logic of the U.S. government’s national security argument, noting that the Chinese military already uses domestic chips, while the Chinese government is now discouraging purchases of Nvidia’s downgraded H20 GPU, built specifically to comply with export limits.
“It’s in the best interest of America to serve that China market,” Huang said, expressing hope for a future policy reconciliation between Washington and Beijing.
The Korean Pivot: Nvidia’s $500 Billion AI Bet
While lamenting the loss of the Chinese market, Huang unveiled a major strategic pivot toward South Korea, calling it a “pillar of the future global AI infrastructure.”
Building the AI Factory of Asia
Nvidia announced new large-scale partnerships with leading South Korean conglomerates to accelerate AI innovation and infrastructure development.
Key Partners and Projects:
- Samsung Electronics and SK Group – Collaborating on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and next-generation GPU manufacturing.
- Hyundai Motor Group – Integrating AI systems into future mobility and robotics.
- Naver Corporation – Developing a sovereign AI model optimized for Korean language and culture.
Nvidia plans to deploy more than 260,000 Blackwell GPUs across South Korea, cementing the country’s role as Asia’s central AI hub.
South Korea’s Critical Role in Nvidia’s Supply Chain
Huang praised South Korean firms as essential to Nvidia’s success, particularly in producing HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) , a component vital for AI performance.
He acknowledged ongoing supply shortages but framed them as proof of explosive demand.
“Even with expanded capacity, the market is still challenged,” Huang said. “But our partnerships with Samsung and SK Hynix give us diversity and resilience.”
The Nvidia CEO emphasized a 30-year partnership with Korean tech leaders, describing it as a foundation for manufacturing stability and growth.
Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Power and Data Centers
Huang also highlighted that Korea’s AI readiness now depends less on chip supply and more on infrastructure.
He pointed to data center construction and energy capacity as key bottlenecks delaying full AI rollout.
“As soon as those data centers are built, I’ll make sure chips get here as fast as possible,” Huang promised.
A Message of Gratitude and Strategic Clarity
Concluding his remarks, Huang expressed gratitude toward South Korea, calling it “a second home” and praising the nation’s long-term friendship and innovation spirit.
The CEO’s dual message criticizing U.S. policy on China while doubling down on South Korean partnerships underscores Nvidia’s pragmatic approach in a fragmented global tech landscape.
With the Chinese market effectively closed, Nvidia’s future growth now depends on alliances with U.S.-aligned economies like South Korea and the worldwide surge in demand for AI infrastructure.
Summary
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang has publicly rebuked U.S. export controls that erased the company’s 95% market share in China, calling them a “self-inflicted loss.” At the same time, he’s betting big on South Korea’s AI ecosystem, with partnerships worth hundreds of billions signaling a strategic reorientation that could reshape the global semiconductor landscape.
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