Commerce

• Google, Microsoft, and xAI joined OpenAI and Anthropic in providing the US Commerce Department pre-release access to evaluate their AI models, creating the first voluntary oversight mechanism for all five major frontier AI labs. • The Commerce Department announced the expansion on Tuesday, establishing a framework with no statutory authority and fewer than 200 staff members to address national security concerns before public model releases. • The Mythos crisis forced the US government to confront the absence of formal mechanisms to evaluate powerful AI models that could threaten national security before public deployment.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released its Q1 2026 Small Business Index on April 7, 2026, showing the index declined to 67.0 from 68.4 in the previous quarter, though it remains above the 62.3 score from a year ago. • Inflation reclaimed the top concern among small business owners at 53%, up from 45% last quarter, marking 17 consecutive quarters as the dominant worry; hiring and investment plans are cooling as economic confidence softens. • Cash flow comfort among small business owners has declined, with only 20% reporting being "very comfortable" compared to 31% in Q3 2025, though 72% overall maintain comfort levels; manufacturing firms lead at 81% comfort while retail and professional services lag at 69-70%.

• The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on March 18, 2026, focusing on healthcare providers amid ongoing policy debates. • Reported on March 25, the session examined provider challenges, potentially influencing upcoming health legislation in the US Congress. • This follows recent hearings on Medicare fraud, highlighting congressional scrutiny of healthcare delivery and costs.

• The Senate Commerce Committee’s Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee will hold a hearing on March 17, 2026, on radio frequency allocations assigned by NTIA and FCC. • Frequencies are vital for US government and commercial space operations, though often overlooked by the space community. • The event addresses spectrum management essential for space communications and tech developments.

The US Commerce Department withdrew a planned rule on artificial-intelligence chip exports on Friday, marking the latest policy reversal by the Trump administration regarding technology trade controls. The withdrawal represents a significant shift in the administration's approach to regulating AI semiconductor exports, which had been a contentious issue affecting companies like Nvidia and other chipmakers. This decision follows earlier statements from administration officials indicating a more flexible stance on AI chip distribution policies compared to previous regulatory frameworks. The reversal signals potential changes in how the US will manage competition with foreign nations in advanced semiconductor and AI technology sectors.

The US Commerce Department withdrew a planned rule on Friday that would have required permits for exports of advanced AI chips from companies like Nvidia and AMD to global customers. The abandoned Trump administration proposal aimed to involve case-by-case reviews by the Commerce Department's licensing office, contingent on factors such as government agreements and end-user computing power needs. Commerce officials rejected returning to the prior administration's 'burdensome, overreaching and disastrous' AI diffusion framework. This decision eases restrictions on the semiconductor industry amid ongoing trade tensions.

The US Commerce Department withdrew a planned rule on AI chip exports on March 13, 2026, marking another policy reversal by the Trump administration amid shifting trade priorities. The rule had aimed to tighten controls on advanced semiconductor shipments, particularly to adversaries. This decision eases pressures on US chipmakers like Nvidia, potentially boosting exports while maintaining national security reviews. Tech industry groups welcomed the move, citing reduced regulatory burdens for $50 billion in annual chip trade.