On December 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) published a temporary final rule (“Rule”) that extends and modifies the most recent rule issued on August 10, 2020 to continue to restrict the exports of the four categories of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respirators as well as a
Export Control
Encryption Exports: Annual Self-Classification Reports Due February 1, 2021
Key Notes:
- Many products and software that use encryption are eligible for export without a license under U.S. export controls if certain requirements are followed.
- Mass market and other items described under License Exception ENC may be exported without a license if the exporter either: (1) confirms the product’s classification through BIS’s Commodity Classification Automated
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BIS Amends Country Groups for Ukraine, Mexico and Cyprus Under the Export Administration Regulations
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule on December 28, 2020, in which it amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to revise the Country Group designations for Ukraine, Mexico and Cyprus. The EAR designates countries in Country Groups (A, B, D and E) which reflect each country’s export…
Commerce Removes Hong Kong as a ‘Separate Destination’ Under the EAR
On December 23, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule in the Federal Register that removes Hong Kong as a “separate destination” under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This rule follows U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s May 2020 announcement that Hong Kong no longer warrants treatment…
Commerce Issues Military End User List for Exports to China and Russia
On December 23, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Federal Register notice in which it amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding a new Military End User (MEU) List. This list identifies entities that BIS has determined are military end users for purposes of the “military end…
Commerce Publishes Additions to Entity List, Including China’s SMIC and Entities Supporting China’s Human Rights Abuses and Territorial Claims to the South China Sea
On December 22, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued formal notification in the Federal Register of its addition of 77 entities to its Entity List. BIS determined that these entities are “engaging in or enabling activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.” While these listings were…
BIS Adds Over 60 Companies to Its Entity List, Including China’s SMIC
On December 18, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a brief press statement announcing that it has “added” more than 60 entities to the Entity List, including Chinese company Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), in order to “protect U.S. national security.” The Chinese companies include entities that enable human…
U.S. Rescinds Sudan’s Designation as State Sponsor of Terrorism
On December 14, 2020, the State Department announced that the United States was rescinding Sudan’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. The brief statement indicated that this removal “represents a fundamental change in our bilateral relationship toward greater collaboration and support for Sudan’s historic democratic transition. This achievement was made possible by the efforts…
DDTC Extends Telework Exemption for Regular Employees and Considers Making It Permanent
In a forthcoming Federal Register Notice, the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) is announcing that it is extending until June 30, 2021 the temporary exception provision under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to allow for continued telework operations during the current COVID-19 public health emergency. DDTC announced this extension…
Additional Chinese Military Companies Listed Under Section 1237 and Subject to Investment Ban
On December 3, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD) released the names of four additional “Communist Chinese military companies” operating directly or indirectly in the United States in accordance with the statutory requirement of Section 1237 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 1999, as amended. The companies are:
- China Construction Technology
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