Trump Administration Rescinds Biden's AI Chip Export Rules
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) officially revoked the Biden administration's Artificial Intelligence Diffusion Rule just days before its implementation. This rule, introduced in January by former President Biden, aimed to restrict US AI chip exports to various countries.
The DOC announced its decision and instructed staff to cease enforcement of the Biden-era regulation. A new rule is expected, likely prioritizing direct negotiations with countries over blanket restrictions.
Biden's Three-Tiered System
Biden's rule categorized countries into three tiers with varying restrictions:
- Tier 1: Countries like Japan and South Korea faced no export restrictions.
- Tier 2: Regions like Mexico and Portugal would have faced new chip export limits.
- Tier 3: Countries like China and Russia would have faced stricter controls.
New Guidance and Future Direction
Instead of the rescinded regulations, the DOC issued new guidance. This guidance reiterates that using Huawei's Ascend AI chips globally violates US export rules. It also warns against using US AI chips for training AI models in China and recommends protecting chip supply chains.
“The Trump Administration will pursue a bold, inclusive strategy for American AI technology with trusted foreign countries, while keeping the technology out of the hands of our adversaries," stated US Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler. "We reject the Biden Administration’s attempt to impose its own ill-conceived and counterproductive AI policies on the American people.”
Further details regarding the new approach are expected in the forthcoming replacement rule.
