U.S. Senators Move to Block Potential Easing of AI Chip Export Rules to China

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a bill on Thursday to prevent any future Trump administration from loosening restrictions on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chip sales to China. The legislation aims to lock current export controls in place for at least two-and-a-half years. The bill is called the SAFE CHIPS Act. Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Democratic Senator Chris Coons led the effort. Prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton also supports the measure. If passed, the law would require the U.S. Commerce Department to deny all export license requests for buyers in China seeking restricted AI chips. The Commerce Department oversees these export controls. The move seeks to ensure continuity in U.S. policy, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. It reflects ongoing bipartisan concern over China’s access to cutting-edge technology for military and surveillance applications.