Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) argued this week that the United States enters any potential artificial intelligence negotiation with China from a position of leverage, pointing to Beijing’s reliance on American semiconductor technology to power its AI ambitions.
Speaking Monday on NewsNation’s “The Hill,” Moran said China is unlikely to come to the table on its own initiative, but that dependency gives Washington real influence. He compared the moment to Cold War-era arms talks with the Soviet Union, when the two superpowers negotiated over nuclear weapons despite being adversaries.
“I don’t think they’re going to play ball willingly,” Moran said. “But, right now, we have the position of strength, and we certainly should be engaging in talks with China.”
Cold War Parallel
Moran invoked the history of U.S.-Soviet negotiations on intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, arguing that the same logic applies to a technology he described as potentially dangerous. According to Moran, the goal then was to talk with an adversary and reach agreements on preserving safety for all of humanity — and Washington should pursue the same approach with China now.
“We have a position of strength right now, because they are dependent on — for their AI stack on our technology, particularly our chips,” he said. “So, we can certainly influence that position right now. And we should be engaging in those discussions, no question.”
Moran went further, saying the United States should “continue” to impose its will on China when it comes to AI.
Timing Dispute Over AI Legislation
Before the conversation turned to China, Moran laid out his view that the top priority for Congress is ensuring the U.S. wins the AI race. He argued that the current moment is a poor one for legislating on the issue, citing the approaching election, heightened emotions, and what he characterized as a knowledge gap among members of Congress when it comes to the fast-moving technology.
The Texas Republican credited the private sector with doing a solid job of self-regulating, saying industry is better positioned than Congress to keep pace with developments in the field. Still, he stopped short of calling for a fully hands-off approach, saying lawmakers should have some rules on the books.
His comments land amid a broader Washington debate over how aggressively the federal government should regulate artificial intelligence — and how it should handle competition with China, which has poured resources into building out its own AI industry. Semiconductor export controls have been a central tool in that competition, with U.S. policy aimed at limiting Chinese access to advanced chips and the equipment needed to make them.
Moran’s framing suggests he sees those controls not just as a defensive measure but as diplomatic leverage — a way to bring China to a negotiating table it might otherwise avoid.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/15/gop-rep-moran-we-have-leverage-for-ai-deal-on-china-they-depend-on-our-chips/