The US presented a framework with new rules for the export of artificial intelligence technologies to facilitate sales to allies and prevent “competitors” from having access to innovations. Portugal is on the black list.
In October 2023, new restrictions on the export of the most powerful chips (processors) to China, including components used for AI, had already been announced to prevent their use by Beijing for military purposes.
Claiming security issuesthe new rules introduced this Monday aim to make it difficult for US competitors to evade export controls “through smuggling and remote connections”, explained the National Security advisor, Jake Sullivancited by Lusa.
In this context, Washington wants to impose new authorizations for exports and transfers of chips sophisticated IT systems for an extended list of countries, with a series of exceptions for allied countries, mainly when dealing with limited volumes, in response to the needs of universities, for example.
The second rule tightens controls on the parameter diffusion of the most advanced generative AI models. The measures will come into force in 120 days to “give the new administration” of Donald Trump time to make the changes it wants.
The White House said the restrictions will not apply to 18 key allies and partners, mainly Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and Taiwan, but leaves most countries in a blacklistincluding Brazil, Israel, Mexico, PortugalSingapore and Saudi Arabia, but also the most obvious ones to China, Russia, Iran e North Korea.
According to a note from the White House, these countries will be able to purchase the equivalent of 50,000 advanced GPU processors each, a limit set to “ensure that American technology is available to serve foreign governments, health care providers and other local businesses”.
EU does not understand where the risk lies
This Monday, the European Commission expressed concern about the new restrictions imposed by the USA on the export of chips for some Member States of the European Union (EU).
The vice president for Technological Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunenand the Commissioner of Commerce, Maros Sefcovicemphasized that “it is in the US economic and security interest for the EU to purchase advanced AI chips from the US without limitations.” “We cooperate closely, particularly in the area of security, and we represent an economic opportunity for the US, not a security risk“, they highlighted.
Virkkunen and Sefcovic assured that they have already shared their concerns with the current US administration of Democrat Joe Biden and that they hope to “collaborate constructively” with the new Republican administration of Donald Trump, which will take office on January 20.
“We are confident that we can find a way to maintain a secure transatlantic supply chain for AI technology and supercomputers, to the benefit of our companies and citizens on both sides of the Atlantic,” they concluded.
These new North American export regulations on AI consider them “a flagrant violation” of international trade rules.
