President Trump’s approval for the sale of Nvidia H200 GPUs to China has stirred concerns among Republicans in the House. Representative Brian Mast (R‑FL) introduced the ‘AI Overwatch Act’ in December, which seeks to give Congress the final authority over AI chip exports to countries deemed a threat.

The bill, which passed favorably in the Foreign Affairs Committee, proposes a 30-day review period by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Banking Committee to evaluate and potentially halt exports of sensitive AI technologies to adversary nations. This measure mirrors the rigorous checks involved in foreign military sales, ensuring similar oversight for AI technologies amidst an escalating AI arms race.

Concerns about the shift in trade policy have been amplified by the unusual terms of the H200 export deal, which mandates that 25% of the revenues go to the U.S. government. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) has also expressed apprehension, worrying that granting China access to advanced chips will hinder U.S. AI dominance.

Despite these advancements, the AI Overwatch Act still faces significant hurdles to becoming law, needing approval from both the House and Senate, and the President’s signature, or a veto override, to enable Congressional authority over future AI exports.