The Globalist The US and Russia meet in Alaska without Zelensky. Plus: China’s chipmakers strike a deal with Washington
Aug 12, 2025
John Minich, an Assistant Professor at the London School of Economics, and Ivana Klimpush-Tsadze, a Ukrainian MP and chair of the Parliamentary Committee on EU Integration, discuss pivotal U.S.-Russia talks in Alaska and the impactful absence of Zelensky. They tackle the new deal where Chinese chipmakers will pay a 15% sales fee to Washington, analyzing whether this acts as a tariff. The conversation also reveals critical insights into the complexities of international diplomacy surrounding Ukraine and the semiconductor industry amid geopolitical tensions.
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Legal Risks Of Revenue Sharing
- John Minich warns the revenue-sharing plan raises constitutional and agency rule problems.
- Courts may be asked whether taking 15% resembles an illegal export tax.
Policy Hinges On Presidential Whim
- John Minich says export controls' future depends on President Trump's choices.
- Department of Commerce officials are preparing for either continuation or broader policy reversals.
Inference Chips Vs Training Chips
- John Minich notes the H20 and MI308 excel at inference but not at cutting-edge training.
- That limits their direct value for developing advanced military AI models in China.