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US might ease chip export curbs on some Gulf nations

By Reuters
President Donald Trump has made improving ties with some countries in the Gulf region a main goal of his administration Reuters/Craig Hudson
President Donald Trump has made improving ties with some countries in the Gulf region a main goal of his administration

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will soon have an announcement on whether the US will ease microchip export restrictions to some Gulf countries.

“We might be doing that, yeah,” Trump said. “And it will be announced soon.”

Trump is preparing for his first major diplomatic trip next week that includes a three-country Middle East tour that begins in Saudi Arabia.

The Biden administration imposed strict controls on exports of American AI chips to the Middle East over fears the prized semiconductors could be diverted to China and harnessed to bolster Beijing’s military.

But Trump has made improving ties with some countries in the region a key goal of his administration.

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