Calling Check: Technology Competition with China

This week, Mike and Jude are joined by Emily Kilcrease,
director of the Energy, Economics, and Security program at CNAS,
who formerly served as deputy assistant U.S. trade representative
and National Security Council director for international trade,
investment, and development. They begin by examining the
limits of U.S. leverage over semiconductor supply chains and
how existing advantages are maintained by the continual
innovation and investment of U.S. industry. They then discuss
the U.S. government’s capacity to use semiconductor manufacturing
chokepoints to slow China’s technological
development and the recent expansion of U.S. export
controls relating to sensitive high-end technologies.
Next, they considered the broader effects of U.S. technology
export policies and the need for the United States to
adopt a multilateral approach that protects the high-tech
industries of allies. They conclude the conversation by
considering what form China’s response—and potential retaliation—to
the new export controls might take.