Trump to Withdraw Biden's 'AI Semiconductor Export Control Policy'

The Donald Trump administration plans to withdraw the previous Biden administration's 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) Semiconductor Export Control Policy,' Reuters and others reported on the 7th (local time).

Reuters reported that a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce said the AI export control policy from the Biden administration was "overly complex and bureaucratic" and would be replaced. Additionally, multiple anonymous sources told Reuters that "the Trump administration will not implement the related measures set to take effect on the 15th of this month."

Previously, the Biden administration established an AI semiconductor export control system called the 'AI Expansion Framework' last January, towards the end of its term. This system divides countries worldwide into three groups and controls AI semiconductor exports differentially according to their classification.

The classification divides into △ ally and partner countries like South Korea △ general countries △ and countries of concern like China, Russia, and North Korea. Under these measures, exports to allied countries are unrestricted, but if a country falls under the general category, an export ceiling is set. Exports to countries of concern are controlled.

Earlier, Reuters reported last month that the Trump administration was considering abolishing the AI semiconductor export control system based on country classification and replacing it with a government-to-government negotiation method.

At that time, the Trump administration was conducting trade negotiations with major countries following the announcement of mutual tariffs early last month, and there was analysis that the AI semiconductor export control issue could also be linked to these trade negotiations.

Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, stated in March that he intends to include such bypass export controls in future trade agreements with countries to prevent China from securing U.S.-made semiconductors.

Credit: Yonghyun Shin, Hankyung.com Reporter yonghyun@hankyung.com