US senators unveil bill to keep Trump from allowing AI chip sales to China
A group of US senators has taken a big step. They introduced a bill to (US senators) stop the Trump administration from making it easier to sell powerful AI chips to China. These senators are from both major political parties. The bill has called the SAFE CHIPS Act. It shows that many lawmakers in Congress have worried. They do not want China to get the best American technology.
This move comes after the Trump administration showed interest in maybe letting companies like Nvidia and AMD sell more advanced chips to Chinese buyers. Many people in Washington think China could use these chips to make its military stronger. They could use the chips to make advanced weapons. They could also use them for powerful mass surveillance.
The core goal of the SAFE CHIPS Act is simple. It wants to lock in the current tough rules on chip exports. The bill would stop the rules from changed for 30 months. This would protect America’s lead in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. US senators
The Bill: What the SAFE CHIPS Act Does US senators
The SAFE CHIPS Act, which stands for the Secure and Feasible Exports of Chips Act of 2025, has introduced by Senator Pete Ricketts (a Republican) and Senator Chris Coons (a Democrat). This bipartisan effort is very important. It is rare for members of the President’s own party to try to block his actions on trade. US senators
The 30-Month Freeze
The main part of the bill is the 30-month freeze. This freeze would stop the Commerce Department from loosening the current export rules on AI chips. These rules were first put in place to keep high-end chips from reaching China.
Deny Licenses: The bill would tell the Commerce Department to say no to any requests for licenses. These licenses have needed to sell US AI chips that have more powerful than the ones currently allowed. US senators
Targeted Countries: This rule would apply to buyers in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The goal has to make sure America’s most powerful AI technology does not go to countries that have considered rivals. US senators
The Level: The limit would set at the chip level that has currently allowed. This means companies like Nvidia and AMD could still sell their less powerful, specially made chips (like Nvidia’s H20) to China. But they could not sell their newest, most advanced chips (like the H200 or Blackwell series). US senators
Giving Congress a Say
After the 30-month freeze ends, the bill also adds another layer of control.
Briefing Congress: If the Commerce Department wants to change the export rules, they must tell Congress first. They must give Congress a detailed report one month before the new rules take effect. This gives lawmakers a chance to review any changes. US senators
Why Lawmakers Have Worried US senators
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle say that stopping China from getting these chips is a matter of national security. They have several key reasons for their deep concern. US senators
Military Power
The biggest worry is the use of AI chips by the Chinese military.
Supercharging Weapons: AI chips are the brains for modern AI systems. Giving China the best chips would let them develop and train much more powerful AI. This AI could then used for advanced weapons, like automated drones or smarter cruise missiles. US senators
Military-Civil Fusion: China has a policy called Military-Civil Fusion. This policy means that all new technology created in the civilian sector, like tech companies, must also shared with the military. This makes it impossible to know if a chip sold to a private company in China will end up helping the Chinese military. US senators
Surveillance and Control
Lawmakers also worry about how these chips could used for social control.
Mass Surveillance: Advanced AI chips are key for running large, complex surveillance systems. Selling these chips could help China improve its ability to run mass surveillance programs. This raises concerns about human rights.
Censorship and Control: The chips can also used to build more powerful systems for internet censorship and control of information within China.
The AI Race
Many in Congress believe the country that wins the AI race will lead the world in the 21st century.
Keeping the Lead: The US currently leads in designing these high-end chips. By stopping their sale to rivals, the US keeps a chokepoint on China’s AI development. If China cannot get the best chips, its progress in AI will slow down.
American Values: Senator Coons said that the winner of the AI race will decide if the technology has built on “American values of free thought” or the values of the Chinese Communist Party.
The Business Side: Industry vs. Government US senators
This bill comes at a time of tension between the US government and American tech companies.
Company Lobbying
Companies like Nvidia are huge leaders in the AI chip market. They see China as a massive market for their products.
Profit Loss: When the US government first put the tough export rules in place, these companies lost billions of dollars in sales to China.
Lobbying Efforts: The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, has been actively trying to persuade the Trump administration and lawmakers to ease the rules. He argues that cutting off the Chinese market hurts American companies and simply causes China to speed up building its own chips.
Trump Administration Debate US senators
The Trump administration itself has been split on the issue.
Easing Rules: The administration has already made some decisions that seemed to favor easing rules. For example, it put and then pulled back some curbs on Nvidia’s H20 chips. This was seen as a negotiation move, perhaps linked to China’s own export curbs on rare earth metals (materials needed for tech manufacturing).
Pushback: However, many experts inside the government, including those in national security, have pushed back. They argue that selling more powerful chips to China is a danger that outweighs any trade benefit. The SAFE CHIPS Act is a direct response to this internal debate.
The Bigger Picture: A New Cold War
The SAFE CHIPS Act is one more piece in the large and growing technology competition between the US and China.
Technological Competition: This fight over AI chips is seen as the central battleground of a “New Cold War.” The country with the best chips will have the most powerful AI, which affects everything from defense to economic growth.
Other Bills: The SAFE CHIPS Act is not the only bill aimed at this issue. Other bills, like the GAIN AI Act, have been introduced. The GAIN AI Act would make sure American buyers get first choice to buy these advanced chips before they are sold abroad.
The bipartisan support for the SAFE CHIPS Act shows that, even with political differences, many US lawmakers agree on one thing: America must protect its lead in AI technology. They believe that stopping the sale of the most powerful chips to rivals is the best way to do that. The bill aims to close the door on any moves to ease the rules for at least two and a half years. This is meant to protect US national security and keep China from getting the technological edge.
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