The Commerce Department oversees a host of disparate functions, from regulating ocean shipping to conducting the census. But his oversight of export controls has put him at the center of the technology war between the United States and China.
Fearing that Beijing will use American technology to strengthen its military, the Trump and Joe Biden administrations have aggressively used Commerce Department authorities to impose regulations that stem the flow of domestic and foreign technology to China, with a particular focus on semiconductors and the equipment used to manufacture them.
Unlike other members of Trump’s inner circle, Lutnick doesn’t often talk about China. He is a great defender of tariffs, especially aimed at the Asian giant.
The next Secretary of Commerce will be responsible for enforcing a series of regulations established to hinder the development of Artificial Intelligence in China.
Lutnick has been one of Trump’s leading supporters on Wall Street, holding fundraisers and promoting his policies in the media.
