On December 16, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced it was placing another eight Chinese technology firms on its Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List (CMIC List). This action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13959 (as amended by Executive Order 14032), which prohibits U.S. persons from conducting
BIS Adds 27 Entities to the Entity List and One Entity to the MEU List
On November 26, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register adding 27 foreign entities and individuals to the Entity List for engaging in activities that are contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. These entities and individuals…
BIS Seeks Public Comments on U.S.-EU Export Control Cooperation
On November 30, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Notice of Inquiry in the Federal Register seeking public comments regarding areas and priorities for United States and European Union (EU) export control cooperation. This information gathering is intended to inform and assist the work of the U.S.-EU Trade…
United States and European Union Reach Agreement on Steel and Aluminum Imports; Section 232 Duties to Be Removed
On October 30, 2021, the United States and the European Union (EU) reached an agreement regarding the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU that were implemented during the Trump administration. Under the agreement, the United States will replace the current Section 232 duties with tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for covered EU…
BIS Issues New Cybersecurity Export Controls
On October 21, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), released an Interim Final Rule to implement export controls on certain cybersecurity items that can be used for malicious cyber activities. Public comments are accepted until December 6, 2021. The final rule will become effective on January 19, 2022, and will…
BIS Issues Final Rule Expanding Controls on Export of Biotechnology Software
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has released a final rule to implement a multilateral agreement to control certain biotechnology software that could be misused for biological weapons purposes. This final rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the decision finalized by the Australia Group (AG) on August 6, 2021.…
Commerce Seeks Public Comment on Risks in the Semiconductor Supply Chain
On September 24, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a notice seeking public comment and input from domestic and foreign semiconductor design firms, semiconductor manufacturers, materials and equipment suppliers, and semiconductor intermediate and end-users regarding ongoing risks in the semiconductor supply chain. The goal of this public comment request…
OFAC and BIS Issue “Fact Sheet: Supporting the Cuban People’s Right to Seek, Receive, and Impart Information through Safe and Secure Access to the Internet”
On August 11, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a fact sheet noting existing exemptions and authorizations available for companies, individuals and exporters to provide telecommunications-related goods and services to Cuba. The fact sheet lists OFAC general licenses…
Treasury Removes UAE from Its Antiboycott List
On April 8, 2021, the Department of the Treasury issued its most recent listing of foreign countries requiring cooperation with an international boycott. The countries on this list has been fairly static for years; however, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been removed due to the country’s issuance of Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of…
List of Countries Requiring Cooperation With International Boycotts
In addition to its role in enforcing U.S. export control laws, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is charged with administering and enforcing the antiboycott laws under the Export Administration Act. These antiboycott laws were adopted to encourage and, in some circumstances, require U.S. companies to refuse to participate in foreign…
