Trump Eyes Rollback of AI Chip Restrictions

Tech Trade Tensions on the Table

President Donald Trump has declared his intent to reverse Biden-era restrictions on AI chip exports to China if re-elected, highlighting a significant policy shift that could alter the trajectory of U.S.–China tech relations. The current restrictions, imposed to prevent advanced semiconductors from boosting China’s military AI capabilities, have been controversial among industry leaders who argue they hurt U.S. chipmakers’ profits and global competitiveness. Trump criticized the policy as overly harsh and shortsighted, suggesting it undermines America’s economic influence while failing to effectively contain China’s technological rise.

Industry Praise or Political Gamble?

Trump’s stance is likely to win favor among U.S. semiconductor firms, which have lobbied for loosening export controls to regain access to the lucrative Chinese market. Export bans on AI chips like Nvidia’s H100 and A100 have cost these companies billions in potential revenue. However, security experts caution that easing controls could enable advances in Chinese military and surveillance technology. The pledge signals a return to Trump’s transactional economic approach to foreign policy and sets the stage for renewed debate over the balance between national security and global market access during the 2024 presidential race.