The European Commission (EC) has voiced strong opposition to the Biden administration's expansion of export controls on AI chips and large language models (LLMs) to most regions worldwide.
The new export controls on AI chips have sparked widespread concern across the AI industry, drawing significant criticism. The Biden administration's latest restrictions have particularly strained relations with the European Union (EU).
Under these controls, only 10 out of the 27 EU countries qualify for exemptions, leaving 17 EU member states subject to restrictions. The EU is now seeking to influence the incoming Trump administration to alter this policy.
According to reports from CIO, countries including Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, and Poland face exclusion, though the specific reasoning remains unclear. Sources suggest this could stem from certain leaders' pro-Russian stances or the Biden administration's concerns about these nations' proximity to non-allied countries, potentially enabling them to serve as intermediaries.
While the Biden administration maintains that these restrictions primarily target China and other hostile nations already under strict export controls, numerous countries find themselves in an ambiguous position. From the EU's perspective, the restrictions create an unprecedented divide, with 17 member states facing what they view as discriminatory treatment.
The Register reported that in a decisive response, Henna Virkkunen, executive VP for technological sovereignty, and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the restrictions. They indicated plans to continue dialogue with both the current administration and Trump's incoming team regarding these controls.
"We are concerned about the US measures adopted today restricting access to advanced AI chip exports for selected EU member states and their companies," the EU statement noted. "We believe it is also in the US economic and security interest that the EU buys advanced AI chips from the US without limitations: we cooperate closely, in particular in the field of security, and represent an economic opportunity for the US, not a security risk."
The statement underscores the EU's position that all 27 member countries should receive equal treatment in accessing advanced AI chips from the US, directly challenging the Biden administration's implementation of tiered regulations and rationing of AI chips.
As of early 2025, Trump has not commented on the AI restrictions, but Republican Senator Ted Cruz criticized the policy on X, stating, "This heavy-handed restriction on chip exports, drafted in secrecy without input from Congress or American companies, mirrors their misguided approach to AI policies and threatens to cripple innovation."
The tech industry now faces uncertainty over whether these measures will continue under Trump or undergo significant changes.
While speculation suggests the incoming Trump administration might dismantle much of the regulatory framework, experts note that the new US government must still address fundamental questions about American AI technology access, restrictions, and usage conditions.
The current framework's primary weakness lies in its complexity, potentially creating exploitable loopholes. However, future US administrations will likely continue grappling with the challenge of limiting hostile nations' AI development while minimizing the bureaucratic burden on American businesses.