Lawmaker Criticizes Possible Chip Exports to UAE, Saudi Arabia
House Select Committee on China ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said May 13 that he’s concerned the potential transfer of advanced U.S. computing chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could allow the sensitive technology to fall into China’s hands.
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In a statement, Krishnamoorthi said it appears the Trump administration is weighing deals that would give Saudia Arabia and the UAE access to cutting-edge American AI chips with limited oversight by the U.S. government, even though both Middle Eastern countries have close trade ties with China.
“The Select Committee has long warned about the potential use of such arrangements to siphon advanced U.S. technology to China,” Krishnamoorthi said. “While we want to ensure U.S. AI is adopted around the world, we need that adoption to be accompanied by strict national security safeguards.”
Krishnamoorthi said the possible deals underscore the need for stronger statutory export controls on dual-use technology. The White House had no immediate comment on his statement.