DOJ unveiled last week that it had seized two "mission crew trainers" in 2024 that allegedly were bound for the Chinese military from a South African flight academy on the Entity List. The agency made the announcement Jan. 15 while filling a forfeiture complaint for both trainers with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Although the Trump administration plans to allow Nvidia H200 chips to be exported to China, a White House official stressed last week that those exports will be closely scrutinized and that the U.S. will continue to restrict exports of the most leading-edge American chips and technology. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, also said he doesn’t believe the Bureau of Industry and Security needs any additional authorities from Congress to boost its export control implementation or enforcement powers.
The Senate voted 82-15 to approve a compromise three-bill FY 2026 appropriations package that would provide a $44 million, or 23%, increase for the Bureau of Industry and Security from the FY 2025 enacted level (see 2601080052). The legislation, which the House approved Jan. 8, now heads to President Donald Trump for his expected signature.
The Census Bureau emailed advice this week on how to address one of the most frequent messages generated last month in the Automated Export System.
Chinese customs authorities have informed customs agents this week that Nvidia's H200 chips aren't permitted to enter the country, Reuters reported Jan. 14. Chinese government officials also informed domestic technology companies that they shouldn't purchase the chips "unless necessary," the report said.
Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on Jan. 14 welcomed the Bureau of Industry and Security’s new license review policy for certain chip exports to China (see 2601130073), saying the agency took a “good step” by requiring companies like Nvidia to prioritize U.S. customers.
The U.S. is planning to impose a 25% tariff on imports of certain advanced chips that are then exported elsewhere, the White House said Jan. 14.
Kevin Kurland, who left the Bureau of Industry and Security late last year after nearly three decades with the agency (see 2511190045), has joined Beacon Global Strategies as a senior adviser. Kurland most recently served as the acting BIS principal deputy assistant secretary for strategic trade and technology security.
The House voted 369-22 late Jan. 12 to pass the Remote Access Security Act, which aims to close a “loophole” that allows China to use cloud service providers to access advanced U.S. chips remotely.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is easing its license review policy for certain chip exports to China but requiring exporters to meet several pre-conditions, including by certifying that there is “sufficient supply” of the chip in the U.S. and that the chips will be subject to “rigorous” know your customer procedures.