The US Senate passed a bipartisan measure that would require Artificial Intelligence chip makers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices to ensure American companies receive priority access to their products before China. Lead co-sponsor Senator Jim Banks of Indiana said the provision is designed to bolster US competitiveness in cutting-edge industries and curb exports to China and other foreign adversaries. The amendment was easily approved in a late-Thursday vote, marking a setback for the technology industry’s efforts to block the measure.
US tech leaders and industry groups have criticized the bill, arguing it would restrict competition and weaken innovation. Lead Democratic co-sponsor Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said the Senate acted to make sure American customers, including small businesses and start-ups, are not forced to wait behind China’s tech giants to purchase the latest Artificial Intelligence chips. Under the legislation, Nvidia and AMD would be obligated to prioritize US buyers ahead of Chinese customers for advanced semiconductors.
The Senate attached the measure to its annual defense policy bill after a month-long stalemate, though its path to becoming law remains unclear. The action follows a Trump administration deal earlier this summer with Nvidia and AMD to ease China export restrictions, a move that intensified debate over how Washington should balance national security aims with the needs of the domestic technology sector. Supporters say the priority requirement will help the United States secure supply in a strategically vital field, while opponents maintain it could hinder competition and slow the pace of innovation.
