The US-China tech war has expanded into the realm of open-source chip technology, specifically targeting RISC-V, an open-source alternative to proprietary chip technology from Arm Holdings. Lawmakers, including senators Marco Rubio and Mark Warner, are urging the Biden administration to take action on RISC-V due to national security concerns. They argue that Beijing is exploiting open collaboration among US companies to advance its semiconductor industry, potentially jeopardizing US leadership in chip technology.
The call to regulate RISC-V represents the first significant effort to restrict the work of US companies on this technology. Representative Mike Gallagher has called on the US Commerce Department to require export licenses for American entities engaging with Chinese counterparts on RISC-V.
This development is part of the broader US-China battle over chip technology, which escalated last year with export restrictions. The Biden administration is expected to update these restrictions soon.
Google has plans to make Android compatible with RISC-V chips
China has embraced RISC-V as part of its efforts to develop its own chips, while the US and its allies, including chip giant Qualcomm, have also adopted the technology. Google has plans to make Android compatible with RISC-V chips.
Regulating US companies’ participation in the Swiss-based foundation overseeing RISC-V could complicate collaboration between American and Chinese firms on open technical standards. It may also pose challenges for China’s pursuit of chip self-sufficiency and hinder efforts to create more affordable and versatile chips.
While regulating open-source technologies is less common than regulating physical products, it is not impossible. Existing rules on chip exports may provide a legal framework for such regulation. However, industry experts argue that restricting RISC-V could impede technological innovation and collaboration, potentially harming job creation and economic growth.
