4. The Role of Export Controls in Managing Emerging Technology

The chapter delves into the critical role of export controls in managing emerging technologies, highlighting the need for international coordination to address the rapid development of technologies like AI, quantum computing, and robotics. It examines the unilateral and multilateral strategies employed by the US and EU, as well as China's ambitious efforts to dominate these technologies. The text also explores the challenges posed by emerging technologies to traditional export control mechanisms and the urgent need for a balanced approach that protects national security without stifling innovation. Additionally, it discusses the establishment of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) as a significant attempt to align approaches and enhance global supply chain resilience. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of a shared definition of national security threats and the synchronization of foreign investment screening to effectively manage emerging technologies in the face of great-power competition.