Congressional Research Service

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US Congress·congress.gov/crs-product/R48642

Credibility Rating

5/5

Gold(5)

Gold standard. Rigorous peer review, high editorial standards, and strong institutional reputation.

Rating inherited from publication venue: US Congress

Relevant to AI governance discussions around compute controls; this official CRS report provides a factual legislative reference on U.S. chip export restrictions, a key policy lever for managing advanced AI development and proliferation risks.

Metadata

Importance: 62/100policy briefanalysis

Summary

This Congressional Research Service report analyzes U.S. export control policies targeting China's access to advanced semiconductors since 2018, documenting government actions, enforcement gaps, and workarounds. It examines the strategic stakes for AI development and national security, and presents key policy questions for Congress on sustaining U.S. technological leadership as China pursues semiconductor independence by 2030.

Key Points

•Semiconductors are foundational to AI development and national security, making them a focal point of U.S.-China technological competition.
•Since 2018, U.S. export controls have aimed to restrict China's access to advanced chips and related AI computing capabilities.
•Significant gaps and workarounds exist, including Nvidia's modified chips designed to skirt export thresholds and third-country diversion routes.
•China has a stated national policy goal of achieving full semiconductor supply chain independence by 2030, backed by substantial government financing.
•Congress faces open questions about the long-term effectiveness and international coalition-building needed to sustain these controls.

Cited by 2 pages

Page	Type	Quality
AI Policy Effectiveness	Analysis	64.0
US AI Chip Export Controls	Policy	73.0

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# U.S. Export Controls and China: Advanced Semiconductors

## CRS PRODUCT (LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

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| CRS Product Type: | Reports |
| CRS Product Number: | R48642 |
| Topics: | Foreign Affairs; Science & Technology; Trade & International Finance |
| Publication Date: | 09/19/2025 |
| Author: | Sutter, Karen M. |

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U.S. Export Controls and China: Advanced Semiconductors

Updated September 19, 2025
(R48642)


[Jump to Main Text of Report](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#Content)

* * *

# Contents

- [Introduction](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540498)
- [Overview of U.S. Government Actions](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540499)
- [Gaps, Workarounds, and Countermeasures](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540500)
- [Issues for Congress](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540501)

# Tables

- [Table A-1. Select Details of U.S. Advanced Chip Controls on China (2022-2025)](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540495)
- [Table A-2. Nvidia's Modified Chips for China](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540496)

# Appendixes

- [Appendix.](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48642#_Toc209540497)

Summary

Semiconductors are strategic and uniquely important electronic devices. They are fundamental to most industrial and national security activities and serve as essential building blocks of other technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). Policymakers, including top leaders in the United States, the 

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Resource ID: 409aff2720d97129 | Stable ID: OWJlZTNhOD