# Senators Urge Commerce to Tighten AI Chip Controls

On November 13, 2026, Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and John Curtis urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to tighten export controls on advanced AI chips. Their recommendations include separate licenses for Chinese companies’ remote access, restrictions on sales to U.S. subsidiaries of restricted entities, and licenses for large shipments to non-trusted companies in higher-risk countries. The proposals could affect chip exporters, cloud providers, data-center operators, and technology firms with cross-border operations; the signals identify no contract, solicitation, or award.

- The recommendations are proposals, not requirements identified as currently in force. Procurement teams should distinguish them from applicable export-control rules when planning acquisitions or evaluating suppliers.
- Companies sourcing AI chips or cloud and data-center services with cross-border access should assess whether the proposed licensing approach could affect supplier access, delivery, or service arrangements.
- The signals identify potential exposure for chip exporters and technology firms operating across Southeast Asia, but provide no specific procurement opportunity or deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** November 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. Congress

### Vendors
- NVIDIA ()
- Aivres (Exporter of advanced technology)
- Alibaba (Potential downstream user of technology deployed in Southeast Asia)

### Key Quotes
> If they are going to compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to compete with us.
> — Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce

### Sources
- [NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Curtis Demand Trump Administration Strengthen AI Chip Export Controls](https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-curtis-demand-trump-administration-strengthen-ai-chip-export-controls/) - Blunt Mo Senate
- [Curtis, Blunt Rochester Demand Stronger AI Chip Export Controls - Senator John Curtis](https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/curtis-blunt-rochester-demand-stronger-ai-chip-export-controls/) - Curtis Senate