US Senate Proposes Bill to Block Trump's Relaxation of AI Chip Sales to China
A bipartisan group of US senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, has unveiled a bill aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from allowing the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China. The SAFE CHIPS Act was filed by Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Democrat Chris Coons.
The legislation would require the Commerce Department to deny any license requests for buyers in China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea to receive US AI chips that are more advanced than those currently allowed under existing rules. After a 30-month period, the department would have to brief Congress on any proposed rule changes at least one month before they take effect.
According to Senator Ricketts, denying Beijing access to high-end AI chips is essential for national security. The bill represents a rare effort by Trump's own party to stop him from further relaxing tech export restrictions on China.
The move comes as the Trump administration considers greenlighting sales of Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips to China. China hawks in Washington fear that Beijing could use these prized chips to supercharge its military with AI-powered weapons and more powerful intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
The bill's introduction marks a significant shift in the debate over US-China relations and the role of technology in international trade. As the Biden administration continues to navigate complex negotiations with China, this legislation highlights the growing concern among lawmakers about the potential risks of unchecked tech exports to Beijing.
A bipartisan group of US senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, has unveiled a bill aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from allowing the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China. The SAFE CHIPS Act was filed by Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Democrat Chris Coons.
The legislation would require the Commerce Department to deny any license requests for buyers in China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea to receive US AI chips that are more advanced than those currently allowed under existing rules. After a 30-month period, the department would have to brief Congress on any proposed rule changes at least one month before they take effect.
According to Senator Ricketts, denying Beijing access to high-end AI chips is essential for national security. The bill represents a rare effort by Trump's own party to stop him from further relaxing tech export restrictions on China.
The move comes as the Trump administration considers greenlighting sales of Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips to China. China hawks in Washington fear that Beijing could use these prized chips to supercharge its military with AI-powered weapons and more powerful intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
The bill's introduction marks a significant shift in the debate over US-China relations and the role of technology in international trade. As the Biden administration continues to navigate complex negotiations with China, this legislation highlights the growing concern among lawmakers about the potential risks of unchecked tech exports to Beijing.