Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government has reached an agreement with NVIDIA and AMD to pay 15% of their sales revenue from chip exports to China in exchange for export licenses, raising concerns about the legality and implications of such a move [1][2]. Group 1: Legal and Constitutional Concerns - Experts argue that the agreement may constitute an unconstitutional "export tax," which is explicitly prohibited by the U.S. Constitution [2]. - The deal could lead to NVIDIA and AMD paying over $2 billion to the U.S. government, raising questions about the precedent it sets for other multinational companies [2]. - Concerns have been voiced by legal scholars and lawmakers regarding the legality of using revenue sharing as a condition for export licenses, suggesting it could undermine the integrity of U.S. trade laws [2][3]. Group 2: Implications for Export Control Policies - Analysts suggest that the U.S. government's approach to export controls is becoming a transactional mechanism rather than a security measure, potentially weakening the rationale for such controls [3]. - The practice of requiring companies to pay for export licenses could be seen as a form of coercion or extortion, which may have broader implications for U.S. trade policy [3]. - There are fears that this precedent could lead to a wider range of industries being subjected to similar revenue-sharing agreements, impacting various sectors beyond semiconductors [5]. Group 3: Industry Reactions and Future Risks - Industry insiders express concern that companies may find themselves in a weaker negotiating position with the U.S. government, potentially leading to further concessions in future agreements [4]. - The possibility of expanding the revenue-sharing model to other industries has been indicated by U.S. Treasury officials, raising alarms among companies involved in strategic product sales [5]. - Companies outside the semiconductor sector are likely to be affected by this trend, as they may also face pressure to comply with similar revenue-sharing demands to maintain their export rights [5].
美芯片企业出口业务被政府“勒索”的背后