US considers tying Nvidia and AMD AI chip exports to foreign investment pledges

The U.S. is drafting rules to link Nvidia and AMD AI chip exports to foreign investment commitments, requiring recipient countries to fund American tech sectors in exchange for advanced semiconductors. Targeting high-performance GPUs critical for AI and quantum computing, the proposed policy aims to curb China’s dominance while securing U.S. economic leverage through reciprocal foreign direct investment. Expected by mid-2026, the rule would apply to chips like Nvidia’s H100 and AMD’s Instinct MI300, which are vital for training large language models and quantum simulations. Countries seeking these chips must pledge investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, R&D, or workforce development, aligning with the CHIPS Act’s goals to bolster domestic tech resilience. The move escalates tech trade tensions, using export controls as leverage to attract capital while restricting adversaries’ access to cutting-edge computing hardware.