The Trump administration is easing off its tough-on-China approach to technology export controls as it searches for leverage in trade talks and looks to propel US dominance on artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
The administration is debating whether to scrap its plans to replace a Biden-era rule that set up a global framework for export controls designed to prevent US-designed AI technology like chips from flowing to China or Russia, two industry sources told Semafor.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not the only sign of a less hawkish approach to AI policy; the administration\u2019s new AI plan called<\/a> for more open-source and open-weight models despite concerns that they could benefit Beijing. And US officials recently approved the sale of certain semiconductors produced by Nvidia to China, drawing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a mistake,\u201d Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Semafor of the administration\u2019s approval of selling those chips. \u201cBecause all they\u2019re doing is helping China. I just think it\u2019s a huge mistake. And I\u2019m not sure, I think some CEOs talked the president into it. I hope he turns out to be right, but I wouldn\u2019t have done it.\u201d<\/p>\n The broader shift on export controls reflects Trump\u2019s conflicting priorities as he tries to cut new trade deals and keep his tough-on-China reputation. The president faces political risk from any perception that he\u2019s going soft on Beijing, and Democrats are trying to capitalize on that vulnerability.<\/p>\n But as the US and China continue trade talks, some degree of horse-trading is all but expected.<\/p>\n Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter<\/a> to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick this week arguing that chip export curbs are needed to maintain the US edge in AI computing capability.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I see out in plain view is the president is helping a giant corporation make big money by moving chips to China instead of prioritizing the work done here in the United States,\u201d Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told Semafor.<\/p>\n