How America Can Stay Ahead of China in the AI Race

U.S. imposed sweeping restrictions on the export of advanced chips and chip-making equipment in October 2022 .

The move followed steps taken in the first Trump administration to curtail China ’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors.

The Dutch and the Japanese announced their own semiconductor export controls in 2023 and again early this year .

In 2020 , the U.S. government began exercising it to more aggressively control foreign-made items, including products destined for Russia , Belarus , and the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei .

The new administration must decide whether to go it alone or to recommit to diplomacy, says Julian Zelizer .

Expanded use of the rule could further incentivize foreign companies to reduce their reliance on American parts throughout the semiconductor supply chain.

This could leave the United States with less leverage as AI becomes more important and more powerful and make it harder for the U.S. to cut Beijing off from advanced technologies.

Extraterritorial controls can also be a diplomatic nightmare.