On December 8, 2025, President Donald Trump stated that NVIDIA would be allowed to sell its advanced H200 chips to China. This decision departs from previous U.S. policy that prevented the export of H200 chips to China to preserve the United States’ lead over China in the AI race. Industry leaders touted economic incentives, such as U.S. companies’ desire to strengthen market shares in China, urging President Trump to change the course of the United States’ advance compute export policy. Some experts fear that this decision will yield negative national security implications for the United States and pave the way for Chinese AI companies to catch up to American ones, narrowing the gap between the two countries in the AI competition. How should the U.S.-China tech competition be viewed amid these changing dynamics?
Paul Triolo joined us on December 12, 2025 to discuss the economic and national security implications of selling NVIDA’s H200 chips to China and how the decision fits into the larger picture of U.S. AI policy.
Paul Triolo
Paul Triolo is a Partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, a founding member of DGA Group, and is based in Washington, D.C. As a member of the firm’s China practice and Technology Policy Lead, he advises clients in technology, financial services and other sectors as they navigate complex political and regulatory matters in China and around the world.
A recognized expert in global technology policy, Mr. Triolo has worked closely with some of the world’s leading companies on AI, helping them track regulatory issues globally, develop long-term strategies on thought leadership and engage with regulators. Most recently, he was founder, Practice Head, and Managing Director of the Geo-Technology practice at Eurasia Group. Mr. Triolo spent more than 25 years in senior positions in the U.S. government, analyzing China’s rise as a technology power and advising senior policymakers on technology-related issues. Prior to his government work, he worked as an engineer for a semiconductor testing firm in Silicon Valley.
Mr. Triolo is frequently quoted on technology policy issues in media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and the South China Morning Post among others. He speaks regularly at conferences and has authored many journal articles and book chapters on global technology policy and China-related issues. He also serves as a Senior Advisor at the Paulson Institute and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Triolo received an M.A. in international relations from the Catholic University and a B.A. in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University.