The Biden administration is set to unveil significant new measures aimed at curtailing China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence technologies, particularly focusing on high-performance chip manufacturing. Scheduled for announcement on Monday, these restrictions target Chinese companies, with around 200 firms expected to be added to a government list that would limit their access to critical American software and products.
This move follows ongoing discussions among U.S. officials and allies, as the government seeks to slow China’s development of powerful AI capabilities. Notably, the restrictions may include sanctions against Chinese firms involved in semiconductor production, particularly those linked to Huawei, a major player in the tech sector that has previously faced U.S. sanctions.
Among the anticipated controls is a ban on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, a type of advanced memory critical for AI processing. The new regulations are specifically designed to block access to the latest HBM technology, called HBM3, while also restricting the prior generation, HBM2.
China’s government has voiced strong opposition to the impending U.S. measures, claiming such actions are tantamount to an abuse of export controls intended to stifle China’s technological advancement. The spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry criticized the U.S. for misusing national security concepts to hinder Chinese growth in technology.
Despite ongoing U.S. export restrictions on AI-related tech, companies like Huawei appear to continue making strides in chip development. Huawei has been reported to be providing its latest AI training chip, Ascend, to significant Chinese firms, including ByteDance and Baidu, reflecting a notable shift in reliance away from U.S. technology.
The backdrop of the U.S. efforts includes a series of measures initiated during the Trump administration aimed at restricting Chinese access to advanced silicon technologies. Subsequent actions, particularly under the Biden administration, have tightened controls further, limiting the export of powerful chips and aiming to close loopholes that allowed some access to advanced technologies.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests that despite U.S. sanctions, China is ramping up investments in its domestic chip manufacturing sector and achieving notable advancements in industries not impacted by these export controls.
The evolving landscape of U.S.-China tech relations underscores the complexities of managing national security interests while fostering innovation in key sectors critical to future economic competition.
