Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025
The Decoupling America’s Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025 aims to sharply restrict the United States’ AI activities that involve or benefit the People's Republic of China (PRC). The bill would (1) ban the import of AI technology and IP developed in China 180 days after enactment and ban exports, reexports, or in-country transfers of such technology to China after the same period; (2) create new U.S. criminal and civil penalties for violations; (3) add a new chapter to Title 18 to regulate research and development on behalf of China, including prohibitions on certain R&D activities, transfers of information, and penalties; and (4) prohibit U.S. persons from holding interests in or financing Chinese entities of concern that are involved in AI research/development, or that support China’s military-civil fusion efforts, surveillance capabilities, or human rights abuses. The bill would also introduce immigration consequences for individuals involved in prohibited activities and establish a regulatory framework to enforce these provisions. Overall, the bill envisions a broad decoupling of U.S. AI capabilities from China, leveraging export controls, research prohibitions, financial sanctions, and immigration consequences to restrict collaboration, funding, and information flows that could advance PRC AI capabilities.
Key Points
- 1Import/export prohibitions on PRC AI technology and IP
- 2- Prohibits import of AI or generative AI technology or IP developed in China 180 days after enactment.
- 3- Prohibits export, reexport, or in-country transfer of such technology or IP to or within China after 180 days.
- 4- Establishes criminal and civil penalties for violations, modeled after related export control penalties; requires regulatory implementation by the Secretary of Commerce.
- 5New U.S. Code chapter governing China-related AI research and development
- 6- Adds Chapter 124 to Title 18 (18 U.S.C. 2741-2743) focused on “Research and Development on Behalf of the People's Republic of China.”
- 7- Defines terms (including AI/generative AI, entity of concern, control, and United States person) and sets scope for prohibiting certain R&D activities.
- 8- Prohibits U.S. persons from conducting or aiding in R&D of AI in China, for entities of concern, or in collaboration with such entities, and prohibits transfer of AI research information to or from China or entities of concern.
- 9- Establishes significant penalties for violations (fines, asset forfeiture, and possible civil damages) and requires immigration-related consequences for individuals involved in such activities. Mandates regulatory enforcement mechanisms and interagency coordination.
- 10Prohibition on U.S. persons holding interests in or financing Chinese entities involved in AI
- 11- After one year, forbids U.S. persons from knowingly holding or managing an interest in, or lending to, Chinese entities of concern that conduct AI research or produce AI-related goods, and that assist with PRC military-civil fusion, surveillance, or human rights abuses.
- 12- Allows the President to use International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorities to enforce these prohibitions, with penalties aligned to those in IEEPA.
- 13Immigration and regulatory impact
- 14- Adds an immigration consequence: individuals involved in prohibited section 2742 activities could be treated as a ground of inadmissibility or removability under immigration law.
- 15- Requires the Attorney General and other federal agencies to issue regulations to enforce these provisions and coordinate across agencies.