New York, Jan 20, 2026, 09:32 EST — Regular session
- Nvidia shares slipped in early trades after a major server supplier flagged delays with China’s approval process for the H200 chip.
- Fresh U.S. tariff threats linked to Greenland weighed on megacap tech, leaving investors cautious.
- All eyes now shift to NVDA’s upcoming Feb. 25 quarterly earnings and any fresh details on its China export situation.
Nvidia’s stock edged down 0.5% to $186.23 early Tuesday in the U.S. after Taiwan’s Inventec said the green light for Nvidia’s H200 AI chip in China “appears to be stuck on the China side.” Other chipmakers showed mixed moves: AMD climbed 1.7%, Intel fell 2.8%, while the S&P 500 ETF SPY dipped roughly 0.1%. 1
This matters because sales to China have become a headline that swings U.S. chipmakers sharply: Washington imposes export limits, Beijing decides what gets through, and the flow can halt abruptly. For a stock seen as a barometer of AI spending, even minor changes in access or timing can jolt the market.
Wall Street is back after Monday’s holiday, stepping into a jittery mood. Traders are quick to trim crowded megacap tech bets whenever geopolitical tensions spike, despite the unclear short-term hit on revenue.
Washington gave the green light last week for exports of Nvidia’s H200 chip to China, with a caveat: third-party testing must verify the AI capabilities before the chips leave the U.S., Reuters reported. Nvidia called the decision a “thoughtful balance” in a statement. 2
Despite the green light, the channel has been anything but smooth. Reuters disclosed last week that Chinese customs officials instructed agents to block H200 chips from entering China. It’s still unclear whether this reflects an official ban or just a temporary move. 3
The wider context isn’t lending support. Investors jittered after U.S. President Donald Trump revived tariff threats targeting Europe over Greenland, triggering a flight to safe assets and volatile stock moves. “We’re seeing the dip because headlines are sparking worry and uncertainty,” said David Lundgren, chief market strategist at Little Harbor Advisors. 4
On Monday, with U.S. markets closed, Nvidia’s shares in Frankfurt dropped 2.2%, dragged down alongside other major U.S. tech stocks in Europe amid the tariff news. 5
Nvidia faces a clear risk: if China continues blocking H200 shipments, the stock could break a key near-term support, pushing investors to question demand growth in other areas. Should approvals ease, the boost could come fast — but policy uncertainty swings both ways, and hedging against it in real time is tricky.
Traders are eyeing any signals from Chinese regulators and customs about whether shipments can restart under U.S. terms, while also seeking new hints from customers on delivery schedules.
Nvidia’s next key date is Feb. 25, when it will release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings. 6
