The Bureau of Industry and Security should get a “significant” funding boost next year so its export control authorities can keep pace with emerging technologies and so its enforcement branch can continue increasing penalties on violators, the top Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee said this week.
The Bureau of Industry and Security completed a round of interagency review for a final rule that could revise export licensing requirements for certain cameras, systems or related components. BIS said the rule, first sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in October (see 2311010008), will “better align controls with technological and commercial developments.”
Technology companies, trade groups, think tanks and researchers urged the government to be cautious as it evaluates its semiconductor-related export controls and prepares new ones, warning that misguided restrictions could cede American technology leadership to China, hurt the competitiveness of U.S. companies and raise the complexity of an already fraught compliance landscape.
The U.S. charged four Chinese nationals this week for their parts in a yearslong conspiracy to violate export controls by smuggling electronic parts through China and to Iran.
Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., announced Jan. 31 that she has introduced a bill to revamp U.S. export control processes to make it harder for China and other “foreign adversaries” to obtain sensitive technology.
As the U.S. pursues new export controls on emerging technologies destined to China, it’s also focusing heavily on updating existing controls to close loopholes and keep pace with technological changes, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said this week.
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The Bureau of Industry and Security reached a $153,175 settlement with Wabtec, a U.S. rail technology manufacturer and supplier, after the company violated BIS’ antiboycott regulations. The agency said Wabtec committed 43 violations when it failed to report to BIS that it received requests from a Pakistani customer to boycott goods from Israel.
C-suite officials need to be more involved in their companies’ export compliance programs, the Bureau of Industry and Security’s top export enforcement official said this week. He also urged businesses to review -- and potentially expand -- their current programs to keep pace with export controls risks, especially as various government agencies work more closely together on investigations, indictments and sanctions.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeing fewer unintended impacts from its most recent October 2023 chip controls compared with the initial set of rules released in 2022, a BIS official said this week. The official also said BIS is working to identify certain companies, including potentially Chinese chip making facilities, that are restricted from receiving sensitive U.S. chip manufacturing equipment, which could help exporters more easily do due diligence on their customers and supply chain partners.