---
type: entity
entity_type: organization
title: "BIS January 2026 Advanced AI Chip Export Rule"
domain: grand-strategy
status: active
tags: [semiconductor-export-controls, China, industrial-policy, governance-regression]
supports:
- Semiconductor export controls (CHIPS Act, ASML restrictions) are the first AI governance instrument structurally analogous to Montreal Protocol's trade sanctions
reweave_edges:
- Semiconductor export controls (CHIPS Act, ASML restrictions) are the first AI governance instrument structurally analogous to Montreal Protocol's trade sanctions|supports|2026-04-24
---

# BIS January 2026 Advanced AI Chip Export Rule

## Overview
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) final rule revising export license review policy for advanced AI chips (NVIDIA H200 and AMD MI325X equivalents) destined for China and Macau.

## Key Policy Shift
**From:** Presumption of denial
**To:** Case-by-case review

## Approval Conditions
For case-by-case review approval, exports must meet three conditions:
1. Export will not reduce global semiconductor production capacity available to US customers
2. Chinese purchaser has adopted export compliance procedures including customer screening
3. Product has undergone independent third-party testing in the US to verify performance and security

## Scope Limitations
- Covers only chips below specific performance thresholds (TPP < 21,000; DRAM bandwidth < 6,500 GB/s)
- Explicitly NOT a replacement for the AI Diffusion Framework
- Highest-capability chips remain restricted

## Strategic Context
Rule represents shift from "restrict AI compute diffusion to preserve US technological advantage" to "facilitate exports where Chinese investment in US manufacturing occurs; restrict only highest-capability chips."

No provisions for multilateral coordination with Netherlands, Japan, or UK semiconductor control regimes.

## Timeline
- **2026-01-13** — BIS releases final rule shifting H200/MI325X-equivalent chip exports to China from presumption of denial to case-by-case review
- **2026-01-14** — Trump Proclamation imposes 25% tariff on semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and derivative products

## Analysis
The consecutive announcements (export relaxation January 13, tariff January 14) form coherent industrial policy: tariffs restrict imports forcing domestic production, while export control relaxation enables exports to generate manufacturing demand. This represents industrial policy objectives pursued through export control regulatory channel, not coordination mechanism design for multilateral compliance.

## Sources
- Morgan Lewis legal analysis, January 2026