US Export Controls on Computer Chips to China: Balancing National Security and Trade Interests

In an interview with National Public Radio on April 26, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that US export controls over advanced computer chips to China are not aimed at harming China’s economy or technological development. The US has been imposing strict controls on the export of computer chips to China since 2022, affecting sales from companies such as Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, following a previous ban on chip shipments to Huawei Technologies.

Despite these restrictions, the US has granted at least two licenses to Intel and Qualcomm to continue shipping chips to Huawei. This decision has raised concerns among some Republican Party Congressmen who worry that it could hinder China’s technology development. However, Blinken emphasized that these exceptions are made based on national security concerns and are not intended to restrict trade with China.

The licenses granted to Intel and Qualcomm to sell to Huawei were authorized during the Trump administration and remain in effect under President Biden. It is worth noting that competitors like AMD and MediaTek did not receive similar exceptions, raising questions about why these decisions were made by both administrations. Blinken’s comments during his visit to Beijing sought to reassure China that the US’s focus is on security concerns and not on restricting trade with China.