Fault Lines Episode 489: Exporting Risk? Trump Greenlights Chip Sales to China
Today, Jess, Martha, and Les examine the Trump Administration’s surprise pivot to allow Nvidia and AMD to resume sales of select AI chips to China—a reversal from export controls implemented under both Trump’s first term and the Biden Administration. The move, described by the administration as a “pragmatic trade-off,” aims to keep American firms in the Chinese market, but has drawn bipartisan criticism as a dangerous precedent—trading national security for short-term business gains.
Is this a smart economic play that maintains leverage over China, or does it erode long-term U.S. security? Does this decision undercut efforts to build an export control regime that’s predictable for industry and credible to allies? And if China can already acquire these chips, does restricting—or permitting—sales really make a difference?
Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussions:
https://fortune.com/asia/2025/08/14/us-china-trump-revenue-share-export-controls-nvidia-amd/
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5446890-nvidia-amd-china-chip-deal/
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@NotTVJessJones
@marthamillerdc
@lestermunson
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