China is urging the United States to reverse what it calls “discriminatory practices” against Chinese semiconductor companies following recent changes to U.S. export guidelines on AI chips.
A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that while the U.S. has adjusted the wording of its AI chip export control guidance, the core restrictions remain and continue to distort market competition.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently issued guidance warning that the use of Huawei’s Ascend AI chips “anywhere in the world” could violate U.S. export control laws. The notice, released on May 7, framed the issue as a national security concern, citing risks associated with U.S.-origin AI chips being used for “training or inference in Chinese AI models.”
Just days later, the agency updated its public statement, softening the language and no longer stating outright that such usage violates U.S. rules. Instead, it warned of the “risks” associated with using China’s advanced AI chips, including Huawei’s Ascend processors.
China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that it had lodged strong objections through bilateral consultation channels following the original announcement. The ministry argued that the U.S. guidance seriously violated the consensus reached during high-level trade talks in Geneva.
“We have noticed that the U.S. has recently adjusted the wording of its press release, but the discriminatory nature and market-distorting essence of the guidance remain unchanged,” the spokesperson said.
The Chinese side condemned the U.S. for “abusing export control measures” under vague pretexts, tightening restrictions on Chinese chip products, and attempting to interfere with how Chinese companies use domestically produced chips within China.
“This kind of overreach is a typical act of unilateral bullying,” the spokesperson added. “It severely undermines the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises, poses a serious threat to the stability of global semiconductor supply chains, and disrupts global scientific and technological innovation.”
The ministry warned that such actions could backfire on the U.S. tech industry. “Tripping others up won’t make you run faster. These unilateral protectionist tactics will ultimately erode the competitiveness of the U.S. technology sector.”
China called on the U.S. to immediately correct its missteps and halt discriminatory measures targeting China. The ministry urged both sides to uphold the spirit of the Geneva consensus, strengthen communication through trade consultation mechanisms, and work toward a sustainable, mutually beneficial economic relationship.
“If the U.S. persists in harming China’s interests, China will take resolute actions to safeguard its legitimate rights,” the spokesperson warned.
