Nvidia has instructed its data centre partners to limit business with Chinese customers, requiring cloud computing providers to sell at least 51% of their services to non-Chinese companies, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

The rule applies to new contracts, leaving existing agreements untouched, according to five people familiar with the matter cited by the FT.

Nvidia reportedly communicated the requirement verbally through its sales force and regional teams rather than issuing written instructions. The company had not previously imposed such a restriction.