The partial government shutdown delayed Commerce Department work on tech export controls, Bureau of Industry and Security officials told an event hosted by the American Bar Association Monday. A Nov. 19 Federal Register notice had sought comment by Dec. 19 “for identifying emerging technologies that are essential to U.S. national security,” with categories including artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Director Hillary Hess of the BIS regulatory policy office said “we are behind where we thought we were gonna be.” BIS' Kirsten Mortimer and others also cited the number of submissions. Mortimer said BIS received 231 comments, including 215 pages of suggestions on robotics and 220 pages on “position, navigation and timing” equipment. “The shutdown was really not our friend,” Hess said. “We’re just really trying to scramble and get everything organized.”
The partial government shutdown delayed Commerce Department work on tech export controls, Bureau of Industry and Security officials told an event hosted by the American Bar Association Monday. A Nov. 19 Federal Register notice had sought comment by Dec. 19 “for identifying emerging technologies that are essential to U.S. national security,” with categories including artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Director Hillary Hess of the BIS regulatory policy office said “we are behind where we thought we were gonna be.” BIS' Kirsten Mortimer and others also cited the number of submissions. Mortimer said BIS received 231 comments, including 215 pages of suggestions on robotics and 220 pages on “position, navigation and timing” equipment. “The shutdown was really not our friend,” Hess said. “We’re just really trying to scramble and get everything organized.”
The partial government shutdown delayed Commerce Department work on tech export controls, Bureau of Industry and Security officials told an event hosted by the American Bar Association Monday. A Nov. 19 Federal Register notice had sought comment by Dec. 19 “for identifying emerging technologies that are essential to U.S. national security,” with categories including artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Director Hillary Hess of the BIS regulatory policy office said “we are behind where we thought we were gonna be.” BIS' Kirsten Mortimer and others also cited the number of submissions. Mortimer said BIS received 231 comments, including 215 pages of suggestions on robotics and 220 pages on “position, navigation and timing” equipment. “The shutdown was really not our friend,” Hess said. “We’re just really trying to scramble and get everything organized.”
Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., sent a letter on March 12 formally requesting a Section 232 investigation into the national security impact of carbon pollution caused by imports, his office said in a March 12 press release. The Defense Department has already found that climate change poses immediate risks to national security, and “modes of trade and shipping, whether air, maritime, rail or auto transportation, cause carbon emissions that contribute to global warming,” said the letter, also signed by Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Judy Chu, D-Calif.
During a March 11 program billed as an information session on upcoming export controls on emerging technologies, Department of Commerce officials were unable to give in-depth details, pointing to delays caused by the recent partial federal government shutdown and an overwhelming number of public comments.
Broad descriptions of the budget for trade-related operations show the administration would like to spend more on enforcement, and would like to collect more fees from travelers and traders. The submissions, released March 11, for fiscal year 2020, asked for $9 million more for the Bureau of Industry and Security -- slightly more than last year's requested increase. "The Budget increases resources to support the Department of Commerce's membership in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the summary said. "The Budget includes $16 million to support the President’s robust trade agenda," the summary said, including implementing the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, which asked Commerce to identify emerging technologies that should be subject to export controls. The summary said the administration wants to establish "a new initiative within the International Trade Administration to counter the circumvention or evasion of U.S. trade actions aimed at those who engage in unfair and illegal trade practices."
The Bureau of Industry and Security and the State Department seek comments by April 22 to inform its review of recently revised export controls on launch vehicles and spacecraft, they said in two separate notices. Conducted as part of their work on the National Space Council, the agencies seek input on how to streamline controls for the commercial space industry, particularly in light of recent moves from U.S. Munitions List Categories IV and XV to the dual use Commerce Control List.
Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei sued the U.S. government Wednesday over language in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that bars U.S. agencies from using “risky” technology produced by the company or fellow Chinese firm ZTE. The lawsuit itself didn't come up during a Thursday-Senate Commerce Security Subcommittee hearing on security implications of China's market activities. Members repeatedly returned to concerns about Huawei and major tech sector issues, including the U.S. race against China to dominate 5G.
Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei sued the U.S. government Wednesday over language in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that bars U.S. agencies from using “risky” technology produced by the company or fellow Chinese firm ZTE. The lawsuit itself didn't come up during a Thursday-Senate Commerce Security Subcommittee hearing on security implications of China's market activities. Members repeatedly returned to concerns about Huawei and major tech sector issues, including the U.S. race against China to dominate 5G.
Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei sued the U.S. government Wednesday over language in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that bars U.S. agencies from using “risky” technology produced by the company or fellow Chinese firm ZTE. The lawsuit itself didn't come up during a Thursday-Senate Commerce Security Subcommittee hearing on security implications of China's market activities. Members repeatedly returned to concerns about Huawei and major tech sector issues, including the U.S. race against China to dominate 5G.