The Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) has published a temporary final rule to restrict the export of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap without a license. The agency defines black mass as shredded lithium-ion battery scrap that contains cathode material, anode material or other “residual battery cell materials.” The BIS will restrict export
Export Control
President Trump Announces Initiation of Recission of Syria’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism
On July 8, 2026, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, President Donald Trump announced his intention to remove Syria from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, a significant move that would assist Syria’s efforts to re-engage in the global political and financial systems and rebuild the country after more than a decade of civil…
BIS Amends the EAR to Remove Arms Embargo Designation on Cambodia
On February 3, 2026, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule removing Cambodia from the list of U.S. arms-embargoed countries—Country Group D:5—within the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This actions follows the White House’s October 2025 decision to lift the U.S. arms embargo on Cambodia, and aligns with the…
Federal Government Issues Tri-Seal Advisory on Sanctions and Export Controls Relief for Syria
On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, issued a Tri-Seal Advisory on sanctions and export controls relief for Syria.
The advisory provides that the United States no longer imposes comprehensive sanctions on Syria and that the…
DDTC Amends ITAR to Remove Arms Embargo on Cambodia
On November 7, 2025, the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued a Final Rule amending 22 C.F.R. § 126.1 to remove the Kingdom of Cambodia as a proscribed country under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Effective immediately, requests for the export of defense articles and services to Cambodia will now…
White House Announces One-Year Suspension of the BIS “Affiliates Rule”
On November 1, 2025, the White House published a Fact Sheet announcing that the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) will suspend the new “50% Rule”—also known as the “Affiliates Rule”—for one year, beginning November 10, 2025. The suspension was among several concessions reached during trade negotiations between the United States and…
BIS Rescinds Previous Firearms Interim Final Rule and Revises ECCNs for Firearms and Ammunition
On September 30, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule in which it announced that it was rescinding in its entirety an earlier Interim Final Rule issued during President Joseph Biden’s Administration that imposed new export license requirements for firearms and related ammunition and components. The Final…
BIS Expands Entity List End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Listed Entities
On September 30, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued an Interim Final Rule that expands the export control restrictions of its Entity List to cover any affiliates that are at least 50% owned by one (or more) entities on the Entity List or the Military End-User (MEU) List. Previously…
Department of Commerce Relaxes Export Controls for Syria
On September 2, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register easing licensing requirements for civilian exports to Syria. The rule implements the policy on Syria established in Executive Order 14312, “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions” (June 30, 2025) that called for…
President Trump Signs Law Requiring Annual Report on Export Licenses Involving Certain Entities
On August 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act” (H.R. 1316), amending the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to enhance transparency from the agency responsible for administering the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Specifically, the amendment requires the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry…
