US Circulates Draft AI Pact to 35 Countries as Competition With China Sharpens

The United States has circulated draft letters to some 35 countries proposing a coordinated framework on advanced artificial intelligence and semiconductor technology, according to officials familiar with the effort, in the clearest sign yet that Washington intends to organise partners into a single technology bloc.

The drafts, referred to internally by the working label "Pax Silica", set out shared safety standards for frontier models, alignment on export controls for advanced chips and manufacturing equipment, and commitments on security of supply.

WHAT IS PROPOSED

Signatories would agree to common licensing thresholds for the most capable chips, coordinate on screening inbound investment in sensitive computing assets, and share evaluation methods for frontier model safety testing.

CHINA'S POSITION

Beijing has criticised earlier coordinated controls as an attempt to contain its industrial development and has accelerated domestic fabrication and model development in response. Chinese officials have not commented on the draft letters.

RECEPTION

Several recipients are supportive in principle but wary of binding export commitments that could cut into commercial relationships. Others have asked for guarantees of access to compute in return.

VERIFIED SNAPSHOT

Recipients: approximately 35 countries. Status: draft, not signed. Scope: frontier model standards, export alignment, supply security.