The Biden administration is considering further restrictions on the Chinese Communist Party’s access to chip technology for artificial intelligence (AI), targeting newly emerging hardware. This move is expected to intensify the already fierce chip war between the United States and China.
According to sources, the discussed measures would limit the Chinese Communist Party’s access to cutting-edge “Gate-All-Around” (GAA) chip architecture technology. GAA technology can make semiconductors more powerful and is currently being rolled out by chip manufacturers.
It is unclear when U.S. officials will make a final decision, with sources emphasizing they are still determining the scope of potential restrictions. The goal for the United States is to make it more difficult for China to utilize this technology to assemble and operate complex computing systems needed for AI modules and to block its commercialization in the early stages of new technologies.
Companies like Nvidia, Intel, AMD, as well as chip fabrication partners TSMC and Samsung, are all looking to begin mass production of semiconductors using GAA technology next year.
Some sources say that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently sent a draft of GAA rules to a technical advisory committee. The committee, composed of industry experts, provides recommendations on specific technical parameters, marking the final step in the regulatory process. However, industry officials have criticized the initial draft for being too broad, so the rules are not yet finalized.
Discussions about U.S. restrictions on high-bandwidth storage chip exports are also in the early stages.
A BIS spokesperson responsible for export controls declined to comment to Bloomberg, while representatives from the National Security Council did not respond to requests for comments. Some sources revealed that some U.S. allies are seeking to introduce their own export control measures on GAA technology as part of a handshake agreement reached during recent trade negotiations. Following the 2021 agreement, the United States implemented restrictions on design software for GAA technology in 2022.
In recent years, the increasingly aggressive stance of the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region has raised concerns in the United States. In October 2022, the Biden administration announced the most comprehensive and stringent chip export restrictions on China, extending export controls to prevent Americans from supporting the “development” or “production” of certain sophisticated chips critical in AI, cloud computing, and cyber warfare and espionage without a permit.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had already stated back in March of this year that the U.S. might further strengthen controls on China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology.
“We will not allow China (CCP) to use our most advanced technology for military advancements,” Raimondo told reporters at a news conference in the Philippines on March 11. “So yes, we will do whatever it takes to protect our people, including expanding our (technology export) controls.”