US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he might ease US microchip export restrictions to some Gulf countries.
Trump is preparing for his first major diplomatic trip next week that includes a three-country Middle East tour that begins in Saudi Arabia.
“We might be doing that, yeah,” Trump said. “And it will be announced soon.”
The US government is considering reducing restrictions on Nvidia’s AI chip sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reports earlier said.
The Joe Biden-era rule that curbed the export of sophisticated artificial-intelligence chips, had sparked widespread controversy.
Meanwhile, Trump said he will not reduce tariffs on Chinese goods before the upcoming US-China trade talks in Switzerland.
Trump spoke to reporters at the White House on Wednesday about the trade negotiations that are scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday.
The US President was asked whether he would be willing to cut the tariffs to bring China to the negotiating table. He replied, “No.”
However, he sent mixed signals later, telling reporters he would look at specific industry requests for exemptions, but preferred to keep the duties broader and less complicated.
In 2018, the Trump administration exempted some products produced in China from 25% tariffs, including bicycle helmets and child-safety furniture such as car seats and playpens. However, car seat component parts, cribs, bassinets, diaper bags and wooden safety gates were not exempted.
