Trump’s AI Action Plan aims to block chip exports to China but lacks key details

The Trump administration’s recently released AI Action Plan aims to maintain U.S. leadership in AI technology while preventing adversaries, particularly China, from benefiting from American innovations. Central to the plan is strengthening export controls on AI chips through “creative approaches,” including working with government agencies and the AI industry to develop chip location verification features and establishing enforcement mechanisms for export restrictions. The plan emphasizes the need for international alignment with allies to impose strong export controls and prevent backfilling, using tools like the Foreign Direct Product Rule and secondary tariffs. However, the plan lacks detailed strategies on how these goals will be achieved, especially regarding coordination with global allies and specific enforcement measures. Instead, it outlines foundational steps for future sustainable export guidelines rather than immediate policy implementations. This ambiguity reflects ongoing uncertainty, as the administration has shown inconsistent export restriction policies recently, such as rescinding previous Biden-era rules and fluctuating stances on semiconductor exports to China. Upcoming executive orders expected around July 23 may focus more on organizing government efforts than