Trump Prepares Global AI Chip Export Controls

The Trump administration is preparing sweeping new export regulations that would require U.S. government approval for nearly all international shipments of advanced AI chips produced by American companies, including Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, extending controls beyond the roughly 40 countries currently restricted.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the proposed rules would establish a tiered licensing system overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce, based on the scale of deployments. Shipments of up to 1,000 graphics processing units, or GPUs, such as Nvidia's GB300 models, would face a simplified review process with potential exemptions. Medium-sized orders would require preclearance before companies apply for licenses. For large-scale installations exceeding 200,000 GPUs under a single entity's control in one country, approval would involve negotiations with the host nation's government, including security guarantees and commitments to invest in U.S.-based AI infrastructure. The rules do not specify investment thresholds but aim to ensure that major AI buildouts align with American interests.

These measures build on existing export restrictions...