China has asked Washington to ease restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductors as part of ongoing trade negotiations, according to a report by the Financial Times that cites people familiar with the talks. Beijing’s request focuses on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and other components critical for artificial-intelligence applications, including devices supplied to companies such as Huawei. The Biden administration barred the sale of leading-edge AI chips to China in 2024, and the controls remain in place under President Donald Trump. Chinese officials now want those curbs rolled back as they work toward a broader trade agreement that could be announced at a potential summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping, the FT said. Security analysts quoted by the newspaper warned that loosening the rules would give China faster access to cutting-edge AI technology and diminish U.S. leverage in the sector. The request underscores how semiconductor access has become a central issue in the two countries’ economic and strategic rivalry.