Senator Elizabeth Warren has accused the Trump administration of granting favorable chip export treatment to United Arab Emirates companies tied to a disputed foreign crypto arrangement. Her criticism followed a Commerce Department rule that gives selected UAE entities easier access to advanced computing equipment.
Commerce Eases UAE Chip Export Controls
The Bureau of Industry and Security published the final rule in the Federal Register on July 14, taking effect on July 10. The measure removes the UAE from two restricted country groups and places it in Country Group A:5, opening access to more license exceptions. Under the change, UAE government agencies and named companies may receive certain advanced AI chips and servers without separate licenses. G42 and Core42 appear on the approved list. Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI also receive streamlined treatment for eligible operations in the UAE.
Commerce said the policy supports military and commercial cooperation between Washington and Abu Dhabi, citing UAE trade controls, its regional security role, and a May 2025 technology framework. Existing end-user and end-use checks still apply to covered shipments.
Warren Links Chip Rule to USD1 Stablecoin Deal
Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, called the arrangement a ‘corrupt deal.’ She said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler should testify before the committee about the rule and related national security concerns. Her statement linked the policy change to UAE investments involving World Liberty Financial, a crypto company associated with Trump and members of his family. Warren cited reports that a UAE royal connected to G42 and MGX acquired a 49% interest in the business.
MGX announced a $2 billion minority investment in Binance in March 2025. World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff later said MGX would settle the transaction with USD1, the company’s dollar-linked stablecoin. Warren also cited a reported $263 million gain for Trump linked to the wider UAE arrangement, presented as part of his reported crypto income.
Security Questions Drive Hearing Calls
Warren raised doubts about whether advanced US technology could reach China through UAE-linked entities. She said the policy moves forward ‘despite reported concerns’ about technology diversion and other security risks. Commerce has not accepted her claim that the rule reflects improper conduct.
The final rule states that US officials will keep monitoring sensitive exports. BIS maintains an export-control officer in the UAE, while listed approvals do not cancel restrictions tied to prohibited users or uses. G42 and Core42’s current authorizations expire on April 6, 2027, unless BIS issues another notice.
Meanwhile, Warren urged Senate committees to examine whether foreign crypto holdings influenced administration decisions. She also tied the dispute to pending cryptocurrency legislation, saying Congress should address presidential and family profits from digital assets before approving new rules. The Commerce Department based its decision on the UAE’s security partnership, technology safeguards, and investment ties with the United States. The published rule does not mention USD1, World Liberty Financial, or Trump family income.
