In a New Front of the U.S.-China Tech War, Pressure Mounts on Biden Administration to Restrict American Companies’ Collaboration on Chip Technology

The U.S.-China tech war has taken a new turn with lawmakers urging the Biden administration to limit American companies’ involvement with RISC-V, an open-source chip technology widely used in China. This move could potentially disrupt collaboration in the global technology industry across borders.

What is RISC-V and Why is it Important?

RISC-V, pronounced “risk five,” is an open-source technology that poses competition to the expensive proprietary technology offered by British semiconductor and software design company Arm Holdings. It serves as a crucial component for a range of devices, from smartphone chips to advanced processors for artificial intelligence.

Certain lawmakers, including Republican House of Representatives committee chairmen, Senator Marco Rubio, and Senator Mark Warner, are urging the Biden administration to address RISC-V from a national security standpoint.

Concerns and Proposed Actions

Lawmakers express concerns that China is capitalizing on the open collaboration culture among American companies to boost its own semiconductor industry. They fear that this could undermine America’s current leadership position in chip technology and assist China in modernizing its military capabilities. Consequently, they are calling for restrictions on American companies’ involvement with RISC-V.

Chairman of the House select committee on China, Representative Mike Gallagher, emphasized the need for the Commerce Department to mandate export licenses for any American person or company engaging with Chinese entities on RISC-V technology.

RISC-V’s regulation has become the latest focus of the U.S.-China chip technology battle. Last year, the conflict escalated with extensive export restrictions, which the Biden administration has promised to update this month.

The AI legalese decoder Solution

In this context, the AI legalese decoder offers a potential solution. It can assist the Biden administration in examining and deciphering complex legal language related to RISC-V technology. By utilizing advanced artificial intelligence, the AI legalese decoder can help policymakers better understand the implications and potential consequences of restricting American collaboration on RISC-V. This technology offers a valuable tool to navigate the intricate legal landscape around chip technology and its impact on national security.

Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed that if the Bureau of Industry and Security fails to take action, he would pursue legislation to address the issue.

A spokesperson from the Commerce Department stated that they continuously assess the best application of export control policies to safeguard national security and core technologies.

Speaking on the matter, Senator Rubio highlighted the potential threat posed by China, stating that if export controls are not expanded to include RISC-V, China could surpass the United States as the global leader in chip design.

Open-Source Nature of RISC-V

RISC-V is overseen by a Swiss-based nonprofit foundation, which facilitates cooperation among for-profit companies in developing this technology. Its origins can be traced back to the University of California, Berkeley, with subsequent funding from the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Similar to Ethernet, USB, and the internet, RISC-V is freely available and leverages global contributions to drive innovation at a faster pace and lower costs.

Involvement of Huawei Technologies and Other Companies

Executives from Huawei Technologies, a prominent Chinese company, have embraced RISC-V as a key element in the nation’s quest for self-sufficiency in chip development. However, the United States and its allies have also recognized the potential of RISC-V. Chip giant Qualcomm is collaborating with a group of European automotive firms to work on RISC-V chips, and Google plans to develop Android, the world’s most popular mobile operating system, for RISC-V chips.

Qualcomm has declined to comment, but its executives have previously expressed the belief that RISC-V will accelerate chip innovation and transform the tech industry.

Potential Implications

If the Biden administration decides to regulate American companies’ involvement in the Swiss-based foundation, it could complicate collaboration between American and Chinese companies on open technical standards. Furthermore, it may impede China’s chip self-sufficiency goals as well as efforts by the United States and Europe to create more affordable and versatile chips.

Jack Kang, vice president of business development at SiFive, a California-based startup utilizing RISC-V, warned that imposing restrictions on American companies related to RISC-V would be a significant setback. He likened it to banning work on the internet and highlighted the negative consequences for technology, leadership, innovation, and job creation.

Kevin Wolf, an export-control attorney at Akin Gump and former official at the Commerce Department, mentioned that while regulating the open discussion of technologies is uncommon, it is not impossible. Wolf suggested that existing rules on chip exports could provide a legal framework for potential proposals.

Conclusion

The U.S.-China tech war has expanded to include concerns over American companies’ participation in RISC-V, an open-source chip technology used extensively in China. The Biden administration faces pressure from lawmakers to restrict such involvement due to national security considerations. Despite the potential implications for global collaboration and the tech industry, the situation may benefit from the insights provided by the AI legalese decoder. This advanced technology can aid policymakers in navigating the complex legal landscape and making informed decisions about restricting American collaboration on RISC-V.

sources:
Hindustan Times,
Reuters