Nearly simultaneously, AMD said its MI308 chip export application is under U.S. Commerce Department review and will resume shipments quickly upon approval. The MI308 is also an AI accelerator tailored for Chinese clients. In April, AMD warned it might lose $800 million in revenue if exports were blocked. Their approvals mark a major shift in U.S. restrictions on high-performance AI chip exports to China.
Since 2022, the U.S. has tightened such export curbs, reaching the strictest phase in April this year, nearly excluding the Chinese market. The resumption highlights a partial easing in U.S.-China tech rivalry and shows U.S. firms cannot do without China in the global AI race.
Against the complex evolution of U.S.-China trade and tech interactions, their chip industry chain relations are undergoing subtle restructuring. The move balances U.S. security concerns with corporate interests, offering a new dynamic in tech cooperation.
