A number of lawmakers recently wrote a joint letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo who is expected to join a Chinese working group to discuss U.S. exports. The letter asks Raimondo to make clear to the CCP that US export controls are non-negotiable, according to an Aug. 18 news release.

"U.S. export control policy towards the [People's Republic of China] should not be up for negotiation, period," the lawmakers said, according to the release. "Decisions on the nature and scope of U.S. export controls should be taken in Washington, not Beijing. It is time for U.S. officials to accept that China has no intention of abandoning its policies that led to expanded U.S. export controls in the first place. In this vein, we urge you, prior to your trip, to publicly clarify that U.S. export controls are non-negotiable, and that the PRC should expect more, not less, U.S. export controls moving forward."

The lawmakers include Chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., along with Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, R-Texas; Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance; and Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Young Kim, R-Calif.

According to the Washington Examiner, Bloomberg found reports Raimondo will be traveling to China the weekend of Aug. 21. The purpose of the trip is to discuss management of the semiconductor industry with China. China and the U.S. have been discussing the sale of semiconductor parts for a year. 

Reports from Chinese hackers revealed Raimondo has been firm in restrictions against China accessing advanced military technology from the U.S., according to the Washington Examiner.

The U.S. has been working to reduce chip exports to China and enhance domestic chip manufacturing capabilities. In October 2022, the Commerce Department introduced regulations that categorized numerous Chinese firms as "unverified," thereby restricting their access to semiconductors and advanced tech unless licensed, the Washington Examiner reported. 

China, in response, imposed limitations on gallium and germanium, vital metals for advanced chip production, due to purported national security worries. Moreover, China prohibited the utilization of chips from U.S. manufacturer Micron in May and had earlier implemented measures to ensure greater self-sufficiency in chip production, according to the Washington Examiner.

ABC News reported China is eager to have Raimondo visit after her policies have put severe limitations on many Chinese companies. ABC News also noted President Joe Biden signed an executive order blocking U.S. tech investment in China earlier this month. 

The executive order included semiconductor chips. Although distancing themselves from "decoupling" economically from China, ABC News reported the Biden administration has continued many of the Trump administration's policies on restrictions over China, limiting chip exports and keeping the tariffs in place.

"We believe it is deeply inappropriate for the senior-most U.S. government official in charge of export controls to let the PRC influence in any manner including be invited into working groups with China – U.S. national security controls on sensitive technologies,"  the lawmakers said in their letter to Raimondo, according to the release.

They emphasized China has no desire to come to a beneficial agreement with the U.S. on this issue and will attempt to gain more control of U.S. export management during the meeting, the release reported.