Nvidia, AMD ramp up White House lobbying over China AI chip export controls
In brief
- Nvidia lobbying spend reached nearly $3.5 million in Q1-Q3 2025, per Crypto Briefing
- That compares with $640,000 for all of 2024, a roughly fivefold jump in pace
- AMD pushed for export access to its MI308 and MI325X chips, the report said
- Nvidia reportedly agreed to share 15% of China revenue with Washington, later discussed at 25%
- Congressional bills seeking tighter chip export license oversight stalled, according to the report
Where the money went
Crypto Briefing called Nvidia's outlay roughly a fivefold increase in spending pace, directed largely at softening export restrictions on chips like the H20 and H200. That's a big shift in a single year.
AMD ran its own campaign. The chipmaker pushed for export access to its MI308 and MI325X chips (per the same report), while CEO Lisa Su did her own diplomatic outreach in China. So what are they actually asking for? Both companies negotiated for case-by-case export licenses rather than blanket bans, the report said.
A revenue share with Washington
The most unusual detail is the money that'd flow back to the government. Nvidia at one point agreed to share 15% of its China sales revenue with the US government starting in 2025, according to Crypto Briefing, and that figure later climbed in discussions to 25% for specific H200 shipments.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has also engaged directly with the Trump administration, including meetings with President Trump, the report said.
Congress pushes back
It isn't a one-sided fight. Congressional opposition to Nvidia's export permits intensified through 2026, Crypto Briefing reported, with proposed legislation seeking greater oversight of chip export licenses and priority access for US buyers before foreign sales are approved.
Several of those legislative efforts stalled (partly due to opposition from industry players and resistance within the White House), according to the report.
Export controls have already cut into Nvidia's share of China's advanced AI chip market, and competitors with fewer US ties have moved to fill the gap, the publication said.
That's the commercial pressure behind the lobbying numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much has Nvidia spent lobbying on China chip exports?
Crypto Briefing reported that Nvidia spent nearly $3.5 million on lobbying in the first three quarters of 2025, compared with $640,000 for all of 2024. The publication described that as roughly a fivefold increase in spending pace, aimed largely at easing export restrictions on chips like the H20 and H200.
What are Nvidia and AMD asking the US government for?
Both companies negotiated for case-by-case export licenses rather than blanket bans, according to Crypto Briefing. AMD pushed for export access to its MI308 and MI325X chips, while Nvidia focused on chips such as the H20 and H200.
Why hasn't Congress tightened AI chip export licensing?
Proposed legislation sought greater oversight of chip export licenses and priority access for US buyers before foreign sales are approved, Crypto Briefing reported. Several of those efforts stalled, partly due to opposition from industry players and resistance within the White House, according to the report.
