The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. is seeking comments on how it can best implement its “Program on China and Transformational Exports,” which authorizes Ex-Im support for certain export transactions containing a U.S content level of 51% or more and makes exports with Chinese content “presumptively ineligible” for financing. The bank specifically seeks comments on the level of U.S. and foreign content in certain “identified transformational export areas” to help it better support exporters “competing” with China, an April 23 notice said. Those export areas include emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing and semiconductor manufacturing. Comments are due May 14.
Clete Willems, a former Donald Trump administration trade staffer, told the Senate Finance Committee that technology sales to China help pay for research and development here, so as Congress considers how to bolster the semiconductor industry, it should also be sure not to put export controls on goods that are not sensitive.
The Commerce Department is open to establishing a national export strategy to help increase foreign market access for U.S. manufacturers, farmers, carmakers and other industries, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said. Commerce, she said, has noticed a trend of “declining exports,” particularly for smaller companies, and wants to provide more support for U.S. exporters alongside efforts to boost domestic manufacturing in semiconductors and other critical goods (see 2103110047).
More than 15 former U.S. national security officials urged the Biden administration to support and fund legislation aimed at aiding the semiconductor industry and boosting U.S. competitiveness toward China. The April 13 letter, signed by former CIA directors, national security advisers and Defense Department officials, endorsed the Endless Frontier Act (see 2104140051) and the recently enacted Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act (see 2006110038), saying they will help build an “offensive strategy” to counter China and support innovation in critical technologies.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for April 12-16 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., are promoting a bill they say should guide government investments in advanced manufacturing or industrial research, and should be a companion to the Endless Frontier Act. The National Strategy to Ensure American Leadership (SEAL) Act would ask the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine to identify which technologies will be the critical ones in the next five to 10 years, where if the U.S. is not a strong player, it could hurt the economy.
Congress should codify regulations from a November executive order that imposed investment bans on certain Chinese companies with ties to the military, said Matt Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser during the Trump administration. He also said the U.S. should take a stricter stance on export licenses involving semiconductor shipments as China tries to become the world’s “only” supplier of advanced technologies.
The U.S. should quickly pass a bipartisan bill that would increase U.S. investment in technology research and high-tech manufacturing, technology experts and academic leaders told the Senate April 14. Some lawmakers argued that the bill, which is partly aimed at boosting U.S. technology competition with China, should also include measures to better protect U.S. critical technologies from being stolen by the Chinese government.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for April 5-9 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Huawei doesn’t expect to make rapid progress with President Joe Biden's administration on U.S. sanctions, Rotating Chairman Eric Xu told analysts April 12 in a streamed presentation. Huawei faces challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitics and U.S. sanctions, Xu said. Meanwhile, Biden hosted executives from AT&T, Google, Intel, automakers and other tech companies for a virtual discussion of supply chain issues. Xu said the U.S. is responsible for supply disruptions.