US and Eight Partners Sign AI Supply Chain Declaration to Reduce Reliance on China

The United States and eight partner countries signed a declaration on 15 November aimed at securing the technologies, materials and infrastructure needed to develop artificial intelligence. The agreement covers semiconductors, critical minerals, energy and industrial capacity as Washington seeks to reduce strategic dependence on China.

By the editorial team. Polish original, published 15 November 2026.

Nine countries sign declaration in San Francisco

The declaration was signed in San Francisco by the United States, Japan, Australia, Israel, the United Kingdom, South Korea, India, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It expands the US-led Pax Silica initiative launched in 2025, the Financial Times reported.

The signatories intend to identify technologies and infrastructure requiring particular protection, coordinate measures to improve supply security and develop new industrial and investment hubs linked to artificial intelligence. Dedicated working groups are expected to carry out the detailed work.

Jacob Helberg, the US under-secretary of state for economic affairs, presented the declaration as the next stage of Pax Silica. The US administration wants to use cooperation with partner countries to strengthen economic security and attract investment into strategically important industries.

Chips and critical minerals are central to the plan

China’s dominant position in the processing of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, is one of the main reasons behind the initiative. These materials are used to manufacture permanent magnets for the energy sector, industrial automation and electronic equipment.

The semiconductor supply chain is spread across several economies. The United States is strong in chip design, Japan supplies materials and manufacturing equipment, and South Korea is one of the world’s leading producers of memory chips. Disruption in any of these segments could restrict access to components needed for data centres and AI systems.

The partnership is intended to support alternative sources of supply and protect technology against theft and unwanted transfer. It also covers energy infrastructure, as expanding data centres require increasing volumes of electricity.

European Commission continues participation talks

Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and the European Commission are expected to join the declaration in the week after 15 November, according to the Financial Times. They were not included among the nine signatories announced on 15 November.

The European Union joined the original Pax Silica initiative in June 2026. Negotiations over the new declaration proved more difficult because some EU governments had reservations about the proposed wording and the scope of the commitments.

EU member states authorised the European Commission to conduct negotiations on 11 November. That mandate did not amount to approval of the final text.

European concerns included provisions relating to AI technologies and the breadth of the proposed obligations. Brussels wants to retain its ability to set its own rules for the digital market.

Agreement comes ahead of planned Trump-Xi meeting

The declaration was signed ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Access to rare earth materials remains one of the main points of tension in trade relations between the two countries.

Beijing has used its position in critical-mineral supply chains as a source of economic leverage. The United States is trying to expand extraction and processing outside China by working with countries that have the necessary resources, technology and capital.

The measures under discussion include industrial hubs combining semiconductor production, computing infrastructure and energy capacity. Their locations, financing arrangements and investment timetables have not yet been specified.

Sources

• Financial Times, “US and allies sign accord to protect AI supply chains from China”, 15 November 2026.
• US Department of State, Pax Silica.
• European Commission, “Commission signs Pax Silica declaration”, 25 June 2026.
• Council of the European Union, document ST 15575/26, 11 November 2026.
• Euronews, “Trump’s upgrade of US-led AI alliance runs into European resistance”, 12 November 2026.