The Bureau of Industry and Security officially announced this week that it plans to rescind the Biden administration’s AI diffusion export control rule and issue a “replacement rule in the future.” The agency also issued new guidance about how using Huawei Ascend chips and other Chinese chips likely violates U.S. export controls, published recommendations for companies to protect their supply chains against “diversion tactics,” and outlined the types of activities involving AI chips and AI models that may trigger a license requirement.
Eric Longnecker, a longtime senior Bureau of Industry and Security official who most recently served as the agency's deputy assistant secretary for technology security, left BIS last week, he announced on LinkedIn. Longnecker -- who was named to the position last year to oversee work on emerging and foundational technology export controls, foreign technology analysis and research to assess the effectiveness of export controls (see 2405070005) -- said he accepted the government's early retirement offer. He had been with BIS since 2004.
Craig Allen, senior counselor at the Cohen Group, has joined the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis as a non-resident senior fellow, the center announced April 16. Allen, a former Commerce Department official, recently retired as president of the U.S.-China Business Council (see 2409100027). In December, Allen urged the U.S. and China to pause their escalating trade restrictions against one another and discuss how to manage national security risks around technology (see 2412120052).
The House Select Committee on China said in a new report that the Bureau of Industry and Security should receive additional funding to improve its export control capabilities amid a growing workload.
When imposing trade restrictions on China, the U.S. should do more analysis to better understand how Beijing might retaliate with export controls, a former State Department official said April 14.
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America could help organize a class-action lawsuit against ocean carriers if enough of its members and other non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC) say they're unfairly being refused service contracts, industry officials said at the NCBFAA’s annual meeting.
The U.S. this week sanctioned Mexican national Jesus Alfredo Beltran Guzman for trafficking illegal drugs into the U.S. and for being a key leader of the drug trafficking group Beltran Leyva Organization. The Office of Foreign Assets Control said the group is "one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world, and it has moved fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into the U.S.
A recent rise in tariffs, export controls and other trade actions will lead to rising prices in semiconductor supply chains, said Sree Ramaswamy, former senior adviser to former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Ross Kennedy, founder of advisory firm Fortis Analysis, has joined the Bureau of Industry and Security as a senior adviser, he announced this week on LinkedIn. Kennedy said his "primary focus will be on supporting exceptional agents, analysts, and colleagues in the Office of Export Enforcement, a law enforcement agency staffed by quiet, diligent, dedicated professionals and which sits at the nexus of national security and advanced technologies, data, and products."
Ken Wainstein, a former U.S. national security prosecutor and intelligence official, has joined Mayer Brown as a lawyer advising on export controls, sanctions, foreign direct investment and other national security enforcement issues. Wainstein was most recently the DHS undersecretary for intelligence and analysis.