PHILADELPHIA -- The Bureau of Industry and Security may look to increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to help them better investigate export control violations, said Thea Kendler, BIS’ assistant secretary for export administration. Although BIS helps train agents from other departments at the Export Enforcement Coordination Center, it could look into bolstering that work, Kendler said May 4 at the annual University Export Control Conference at the University of Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Bureau of Industry and Security hasn’t received many questions on its new cybersecurity export control rule since it took effect in March (see 2110200036 and 2201110025) but is planning more guidance to help industry and academia comply with the restrictions, a government official said. The official, who requested anonymity to speak candidly at the May 4 University Export Control Conference at the University of Pennsylvania, said the rule may not be getting much attention because its implementation coincided with a string of Russia-related export controls.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Bureau of Industry and Security is leaning toward new export controls on brain computer interface technologies despite urging from industry to avoid the restrictions altogether. Thea Kendler, BIS assistant secretary for export administration, said BCI technology has too many potential “nefarious” uses to not be subject to at least some restrictions.
Peter Quinter, former customs and international trade attorney at GrayRobinson, joined Gunster as the leader of its Customs and International Trade Law Group, Quinter said in a post on his LinkedIn account. Quinter advises on issues involving investigations by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control and the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Before entering private practice, Quinter served as counsel at the Southeast Regional Headquarters of the U.S. Customs Service.
President Joe Biden on May 4 announced several initiatives to “advance” U.S. innovation in quantum information science and ensure the U.S. remains a leader in quantum technologies. The announcements include an executive order meant to “enhance” the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee and a national security memorandum aimed at addressing the risks posed by quantum computers to America’s cybersecurity. The memorandum directs federal agencies to “develop comprehensive plans” to protect American intellectual property, research and development and other “sensitive” technology from being acquired by America’s “adversaries,” the White House said.
The Biden administration is planning new human rights sanctions against Chinese surveillance company Hikvision, the Financial Times reported May 4. Although the administration hasn’t yet made a “final decision” on the controls, the move would represent the “first time the U.S. has imposed such sanctions on a big Chinese technology group,” the report said. The move could have “far-reaching consequences” on companies that deal with Hikvision, the report said. Hikvision is the world’s largest surveillance equipment manufacturer. The White House didn’t comment. Hikvision was designated a Chinese military company and added to an investment ban list in 2020 (see 2011130026), and was added to the Entity List in 2019 (see 1910070076).
PHILADELPHIA -- The Bureau of Industry and Security has no immediate plans to remove the virus that caused the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, from its export control classification of EAR99 (see 2002250069), a government official said. Removing the virus from EAR99 -- a classification for products that generally don't require export licenses under the Export Administration Regulations -- could subject exports of the virus to restrictions that may hinder vital information sharing or vaccine delivery, the official said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week posted its first tranche of Russia-related frequently asked questions to provide guidance on recent export control announcements. The FAQs cover license requirements, license application review policies, the agency's foreign direct product rules and de minimis rules, excluded countries, luxury goods, license exceptions and country group and country chart changes. The agency said it plans to update the guidance as it receives more questions and as new controls are announced.
John Beahn, former head of Shearman & Sterling's Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and foreign direct investment practice, has joined Milbank as a partner, the firm announced in an email. Beahn's work will center on CFIUS matters and FDI proceedings as well as national security issues, including sanctions and arms controls, the firm said.
The U.K. will investigate whether British-made weapons parts are being used by Russia in its war in Ukraine, The Guardian reported May 2. The U.K. probe stems from a report by the Royal United Services Institute, which said Ukrainian armed forces recovered Russian weapons and systems with a “‘consistent pattern’ of dependence on foreign-made components,” including from the U.K. Although the RUSI report didn’t suggest any “wrongdoing” by U.K. manufacturers, it still “raised concerns that parts made in the UK could still find their way to Russia” despite strict export controls and sanctions.