U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said chip export controls were not a major topic of discussion during recent U.S.–China talks [1, 2].
The lack of focus on semiconductor restrictions suggests a shift in diplomatic priorities during the high-level summit, potentially leaving critical tech tensions unresolved while other economic issues take precedence.
The discussions took place from May 14 to 15, 2026, in Washington, D.C. [1, 2]. According to Greer, the two nations prioritized different areas of economic cooperation, including the trade of rare-earths [3].
"Export controls on chips are not a major topic of our discussions," Greer said [4]. He said to Bloomberg News that the U.S. is not focusing on chip export controls at this time [5].
Despite these statements, some reports indicate that the chip export issue remains unresolved [3]. This contradiction highlights a gap between the official U.S. position on the summit's agenda and the actual state of the technological standoff between the two superpowers.
Separate from the summit agenda, the U.S. government has recently granted approval for roughly 10 Chinese companies to purchase Nvidia's H200 chips [6]. This targeted allowance continues amid the broader landscape of export restrictions that limit China's access to advanced artificial intelligence hardware.
The summit focused heavily on broader economic cooperation and the volatile rare-earths market, a critical component for green energy and defense technology. By sidelining the chip debate, officials may have sought to avoid a diplomatic stalemate that could have derailed other trade agreements.
“"Export controls on chips are not a major topic of our discussions,"”
The decision to deprioritize chip export controls during the Washington summit indicates a tactical choice by the U.S. to secure agreements on rare-earths and general trade without conceding on national security restrictions. By framing chip controls as a non-major topic, the U.S. maintains its current restrictive posture while attempting to stabilize other sectors of the bilateral economic relationship.
