Still Too Early for Quantum Export Controls, Researcher Says

U.S. export controls on quantum technologies would be premature, because quantum is “in its infancy” and researchers are still studying its potential, said Sam Howell, an adjunct associate fellow with the Center for a New American Security’s Technology and National Security Program. “A lot of uncertainty” is around quantum, and so the impact of export controls on the technology's future is also unclear, she said.

“Implementing restrictions now carries more risk than reward,” Howell said during a CNAS-hosted event last week, adding that controls could stifle U.S. innovation by limiting American researchers’ access to “promising prototypes” abroad. If the U.S. at some point decides to impose export controls on quantum, it will need to have “done some legwork already to understand what the technology choke points are” in global supply chains, she said.

Other technology experts also have said it’s too early to impose quantum technology controls (see 2402010069 and 2305020020).