Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang Makes Last-Minute Addition to Trump’s Beijing Delegation

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was added to Donald Trump’s China delegation at the last minute following reports of his exclusion from the original White House list. The president is visiting Beijing for meetings with Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday, marking his first trip to China in nearly a decade. Huang’s inclusion came after Trump invited him aboard Air Force One during a stopover in Alaska, responding to media coverage of his omission. The delegation also includes Elon Musk, Tim Cook from Apple, and Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, with most companies facing trade challenges in China. Nvidia’s position in China’s AI chip sector has collapsed due to US export controls, which block sales of its advanced H200 series. In recent filings, Nvidia described its China data center market presence as effectively shut down, with domestic rivals filling the void. Huang’s attendance focuses on long-term strategic positioning rather than immediate deals, as regulatory hurdles delay even potential H200 sales despite recent policy tweaks. Trump has stated his primary request to Xi will be greater access for American businesses, including Boeing aircraft, agricultural products, and energy exports. Separately, US Trade Representative Scott Bessent held closed-door talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in South Korea, though details remain undisclosed. The discussions follow efforts to sustain a 2023 trade agreement that paused US tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for Beijing halting rare earth mineral export threats. Both sides aim to stabilize trade relations amid lingering tensions over technology, agriculture, and manufacturing.