WASHINGTON DRAWS A LINE ON AI COOPERATION WITH BEIJING AS TRUMP DEFENDS U.S. TECHNOLOGICAL LEAD
September 30, 2026
US President Donald Trump has ruled out working jointly with China on artificial intelligence governance, arguing that closer cooperation could provide Beijing with access to technological knowledge and make it harder for American companies to maintain their lead in the rapidly developing sector.
Trump made the remarks in Washington while discussing the future of artificial intelligence and shortly before hosting leading technology executives at the White House. His comments came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, during which artificial intelligence was among the issues discussed by the two leaders.
The US administration has increasingly framed artificial intelligence as an area of strategic and economic competition between Washington and Beijing. Trump has repeatedly argued that maintaining American technological advantages is important as both countries invest heavily in advanced AI systems, computing infrastructure and related technologies.
Trump’s position contrasts with calls from some technology leaders and policymakers for greater international coordination on AI safety. Advocates of cooperation have argued that countries developing increasingly capable systems need mechanisms for addressing shared risks, while the Trump administration has placed greater emphasis on rapid technological development and industry-led safeguards.
The disagreement also reflects broader differences between Washington and Beijing over how advanced artificial intelligence should be governed. Chinese officials have called for international cooperation and human oversight of AI, while the US administration has emphasised technological leadership and limiting measures that could slow American companies.
The latest comments indicate that AI is becoming an increasingly important component of the wider US-China strategic relationship, with questions surrounding technological access, safety standards, economic competition and national security likely to remain central to future discussions.
