US Considers Sweeping New Chip Export Controls

Proposed rules would require US government approval for all AI chip exports outside the country

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Trump administration has allegedly drafted new rules that would give the US government significantly more control over the export of advanced AI chips. Under the proposed regulations, companies and governments outside the US would need approval from the US Department of Commerce to purchase these chips, with the review process varying based on the size and scale of the potential purchase.

Why it matters

These new export controls could hurt US chip companies like AMD and Nvidia by making it harder for them to sell their products globally, potentially driving customers to seek alternative chip sources outside the US. This could erode the US's current dominance in the global AI market.

The details

The drafted rules would require US government approval to ship AI chips anywhere outside the US, giving the government significantly more control over semiconductor exports. Small orders may receive a basic review, while larger orders could require the buyer's government to get involved. This represents a major increase in government involvement compared to the AI Diffusion rule instituted under President Biden, which the Trump administration rescinded last year.

  • The Trump administration formally rescinded Biden's AI Diffusion regulation in May 2025, less than a week before it was set to go into effect.
  • The US government has allegedly drafted the new chip export control rules in early 2026.

The players

Trump administration

The current US presidential administration led by President Donald Trump.

US Department of Commerce

The federal agency that would be responsible for reviewing and approving chip export requests under the proposed new rules.

AMD

A major US-based semiconductor company that would be impacted by the new export controls.

Nvidia

A leading US-based AI chip manufacturer that has already faced uncertainty around exports to China under the Trump administration.

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What’s next

The proposed chip export control rules are still in the drafting stage, and it remains to be seen if they will be finalized and implemented by the Trump administration.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's push for greater government control over semiconductor exports, if enacted, could significantly impact the global competitiveness of US chip companies and the country's leadership position in the AI industry.