Amazon is backing legislation that would further restrict Nvidia’s ability to export advanced AI chips to China, joining Microsoft in support of the proposal, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The legislation, known as the GAIN AI Act — short for Guaranteeing Access and Innovation for National Artificial Intelligence — is included in the National Defense Authorization Act. It would require chipmakers to prioritize domestic orders before selling to foreign customers.
Microsoft has publicly endorsed the bill, while Amazon’s cloud division has privately expressed support to Senate staffers. Anthropic is also backing the legislation. Meta and Google have not taken a position, and President Donald Trump has not endorsed the proposal.
The White House has reportedly told lawmakers that the Commerce Department already regulates AI chip exports, limiting the practical impact of the bill.
Nvidia has warned that the proposal could weaken global competition by restricting access to high-performance chips.
The legislation reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to prevent China from acquiring advanced AI hardware seen as critical to military and strategic capabilities.
