How to Curb Investments in Chinese Technology: Initiatives and Debates in the United States Briefings de l'Ifri, August 31, 2023

Key Takeaways:

• On August 9, 2023, President Biden issued an unprecedented executive order, announcing notification requirements and prohibitions for U.S. tech investments in China.
• Three sectors are targeted: semiconductors, quantum information technology, and artificial intelligence.
• Washington’s main concern is that these investments are accompanied by technology transfers and “intangible benefits” contributing to the development of Chinese military capabilities.
• This concern, first voiced in the 1980s, has received a heightened political response since 2018.
• Considering the emerging consensus in Congress and the multiplication of bills, further measures are likely to be adopted in the coming months.
• The European Union and certain Member States are beginning to reflect on the consequences of U.S. measures, and on the relevance of adopting their own tools to control investment in China.