• AI export controls
• digital sovereignty
• EU strategic autonomy
• EU–U.S. relations;
• Ireland
• U.S. technology policy

This thesis investigates how Ireland’s exemption from U.S. export controls on artificial intelligence technologies impacts the European Union’s pursuit of strategic autonomy in the digital domain. By analysing the legal frameworks governing U.S. export controls, particularly those affecting advanced semiconductors and AI models, and comparing them with the EU’s evolving digital sovereignty agenda, the study explores how Ireland's unique position as a transatlantic tech hub creates both opportunities and vulnerabilities. The research focuses on U.S. measures targeting companies like NVIDIA and the implications for their European operations based in Ireland. Through a legal and policy analysis grounded in international trade law, privacy standards, and industrial policy, the thesis highlights tensions between public and private governance regimes. It concludes with recommendations for aligning Ireland’s strategic interests with the EU’s goals, suggesting pathways to strengthen resilience and innovation without undermining global partnerships. The findings contribute to broader debates on AI regulation, economic security, and geopolitical competition in the technology sector.