US plans licence rule on advanced AI chips for seven countries including Malaysia and Singapore
The US Commerce Department is preparing rules that would require licences to export Nvidia Blackwell-class and more advanced chips to seven countries, four of them in Southeast Asia, to stop Chinese firms accessing the hardware remotely, The Information reported.
The United States is preparing to restrict Chinese AI companies from remotely using advanced AI chips housed in data centres in seven countries, according to a report by The Information relayed by W.Media on 12 November 2026. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are among the destinations, along with Brazil, Norway and South Africa. The report cited people familiar with the process.
Under the proposed Commerce Department rules, exports of Nvidia Blackwell-class and more advanced chips to those countries would need a licence. The aim is to stop Chinese AI firms reaching advanced chips remotely through data centres in third countries, and to curb chip smuggling into China. The rule would expand existing semiconductor controls run by the department's Bureau of Industry and Security.
The rule could be announced as soon as this month, according to the report. The department is still consulting other government agencies on the long-awaited rule before finalising it.
The US government has recently been criticised for moving too slowly on restricting China's access to advanced AI technology. The criticism has grown louder after Nvidia's recent alleged spying scandal. Nvidia has long opposed restrictions on chip sales to China.