Members of a U.S. commission on China said they approved of the Trump administration’s AI chip agreement with the United Arab Emirates last week, but they also stressed that the deal should have stringent security guardrails in place to verify that any U.S. chips aren’t being sent on to Beijing.
The Bureau of Industry and Security suspended the export privileges of six people after they were convicted of export-related offenses, including illegal shipments to companies owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch and the smuggling of firearms and engine parts to Mexico. The suspensions took effect from the date of their convictions.
The Bureau of Industry and Security quietly revised its announcement of new guidance on Huawei Ascend chips to remove language that said using those chips “anywhere in the world” is a violation of U.S. export controls.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is looking to continue moving away from proposed rulemakings and instead issue most new rules as interim final or final, said two people with knowledge of the agency’s plans.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is allowing for another 30 days of public comments on an information collection related to declarations to the Chemical Weapons Convention. BIS previously asked for feedback on the information collection in March (see 2503060007). Each CWC member must make “initial and annual declarations on certain facilities” that produce, import or export certain toxic chemicals and their precursors, and facilities subject to inspection by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons must also submit certain information.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced a bill May 15 that would put China’s Institute of Forensic Science (IFS) back on the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List.
China criticized new guidance from the Bureau of Industry and Security this week that said using Huawei Ascend chips likely violates export controls (see 2505130018), saying the announcement is another example of U.S. “unilateral bullying.”
The Senate Commerce Committee voted 17-11 May 14 to approve former Energy Department official Paul Dabbar to be deputy commerce secretary, sending his nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. Asked in written questions whether he would ensure the Bureau of Industry and Security has the resources necessary to do its job, Dabbar said he would ensure the Commerce Department, including BIS, “completes its mission.” He also said he would work to "tighten export controls on critical and emerging technologies."
The U.S. government could improve its ability to wield its economic statecraft tools, including sanctions, export controls and investment screening, by making several organizational changes, such as creating an interagency coordinating body co-led by a new high-ranking official at the State Department, a researcher told the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific May 14.
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.