Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Del., announced Dec. 4 that they have introduced a bill to codify into law the Trump administration’s current limits on what advanced AI chips can be sold to China and other foreign “adversaries.”
The U.S. should maintain and strengthen export restrictions on advanced chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment to preserve its edge over China in AI, a panel of experts told lawmakers Dec. 2.
A proposal to require U.S. manufacturers of advanced AI chips to make their products available to American firms before selling them to China is unlikely to make it into the final FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), but it could advance later as stand-alone legislation, a key lawmaker said Dec. 2.
A bill that would require U.S. manufacturers of advanced AI chips to make their products available to American firms before selling them to China “is pretty common sense,” said Daniel Remler, a former State Department official.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., said Nov. 20 that he supports a proposal that would require U.S. manufacturers of advanced AI chips to make their products available to American firms before selling them to China and other U.S. arms embargoed countries.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Nov. 20 that he plans to introduce a bill to place subsidiaries on the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List if they're owned 50% or more by companies on that list.
Two House Democrats urged the Trump administration Nov. 20 to brief lawmakers on its decision to authorize the export of up to 35,000 of Nvidia's Blackwell advanced AI chips to companies based in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (see 2511190068).
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) asserted in a new report that controls on semiconductor sales to China should be kept to a minimum to ensure that U.S. chipmakers have enough revenue to develop new products, remain competitive internationally and sustain American jobs.
The recent export controls suspended by the Chinese government created a new framework for export controls that could quickly be reinstated should tensions between the U.S. and China flare up again, according to compliance experts.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., on Nov. 6 introduced as a stand-alone bill his proposal to require U.S. manufacturers of advanced AI chips to make their products available to American firms before selling them to U.S. arms embargoed countries. The measure was referred to the Senate Banking Committee. His proposal was included as an amendment to the Senate-passed FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, but it's unclear if it will make it into the final version amid opposition from the U.S. semiconductor industry (see 2509050056 and 2510240052).