Biden signs executive order restricting US investment in Chinese semiconductors quantum tech and AI

President Biden signs an executive order restricting American investment in three sectors in China where the US fears Chinese military and surveillance advances. These sectors include advanced semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence. The order, implemented by the Treasury Department, takes effect in 2024. Some investments in particularly sensitive categories, such as those supporting Chinese military or surveillance programs, are prohibited outright. Others require notification. Administration officials describe the strategy as a "small yard with a high fence," targeting only the most sensitive technologies rather than broad economic decoupling. China criticizes the order as protectionist and discriminatory. The UK, Germany, and EU announce they are considering similar outbound screening regimes.