China has banned Nvidia's RTX 5090D V2 gaming chip while CEO Jensen Huang was visiting with Donald Trump last week. The chip appeared on China's customs ban list last Friday, escalating the tech battle between superpowers over AI dominance. Beijing continues to block Nvidia's products, even degraded versions designed to comply with US export controls.

The RTX 5090D V2, introduced last August, targets Chinese gamers and 3D animators but has also been acquired by AI developers. Beijing aims to support domestic chipmakers like Huawei and Cambricon as they compete with US rivals. This latest ban demonstrates China's determination to control its semiconductor supply chain despite international pressure.

Despite restrictions, Huang expressed optimism during a Bloomberg TV interview, stating he believes "over time, the market will open." However, other Nvidia chips including the H200 and H20 have also faced Chinese blocking, even after Trump administration approval for sales to companies like Alibaba and Tencent.