Amazon has joined Microsoft in supporting new legislation aimed at tightening restrictions on Nvidia’s chip exports to China, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday that cited people familiar with the discussions.
The proposed legislation, called the GAIN AI Act, also has the backing of AI startup Anthropic. The Act — short for Guaranteeing Access and Innovation for National Artificial Intelligence — is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It requires AI chipmakers to prioritize fulfilling U.S. demand for advanced processors before supplying them to overseas buyers.
Microsoft has publicly endorsed the Act, while representatives from Amazon’s cloud division have privately expressed their support to Senate staffers, the report said.
According to the Journal, other major tech companies such as Meta and Google have not stated a position on the proposal. U.S. President Donald Trump has also not taken an official stance.
White House officials, including AI adviser David Sacks, told the bill’s sponsor Senator Jim Banks that the legislation may have a limited impact because the Commerce Department already regulates AI chip exports, the report noted.
Reuters was unable to confirm the report independently. Amazon declined to comment, and Microsoft, Anthropic, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Nvidia, the leading global chipmaker, has previously argued that the GAIN AI Act could weaken global competition by restricting the availability of advanced processors in other countries.
The proposed law highlights Washington’s push to prioritize domestic access to high-end AI technology amid growing concerns over China’s ability to use advanced computing power to strengthen its military capabilities.
