New mandatory reporting rules proposed this week by the Bureau of Industry and Security could require developers of advanced artificial intelligence models and computing clusters to submit “detailed” information to the agency about their developmental activities, cybersecurity measures and more.
The Bureau of Industry and Security completed a round of interagency review for a proposed rule that could introduce new reporting requirements involving certain artificial intelligence technology. The rule, sent for interagency review June 5 (see 2406060036) and completed Sept. 5, could propose requirements “for the development of advanced artificial intelligence models and computing clusters.” BIS said it's planning to amend its Industrial Base Surveys Data Collections regulation by "establishing reporting requirements for the development" of these models and clusters as part of an AI executive order signed by President Joe Biden last year (see 2310300029).
A new set of advanced technology export controls announced by the Bureau of Industry and Security this week will apply to quantum computing, semiconductor manufacturing, 3D printing and other critical technologies that BIS said could be used by foreign militaries to harm U.S. national security. The measures, outlined in an interim final rule released Sept. 5, also include a new license exception that could allow U.S. exporters to continue shipping these technologies to a list of close American allies.
Nazak Nikakhtar, acting head of the Bureau of Industry and Security during the Trump administration, blamed the deep state for a lack of urgency in confronting China, during a podcast interview with China Talk. Nikakhtar did not use that term, but said that it was hard for Commerce Department career officials to shift their thinking from promoting exports of goods to restricting exports or investment. Nikakhtar was previously a civil servant herself, working on antidumping and countervailing duty cases and negotiations with China.
The Bureau of Industry and Security sent a final rule for interagency review that could remove export licensing requirements for certain spacecraft and related items destined to Australia, Canada and the U.K. BIS sent the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Aug. 30.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on two export-related information collections, it said in notices this week.
The Bureau of Industry and Security reached a $44,750 settlement with Streamlight, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of portable lighting products, after BIS said the firm violated the Export Administration Regulations’ antiboycott provisions. Streamlight committed the antiboycott violations by certifying to a freight forwarder -- as it prepared for a Bahrain trade show -- that its goods didn’t come from Israel.
New guidance issued last week by the Bureau of Industry and Security outlines how exporters should use contractual clauses in their sales contracts to prevent Russia-related trade violations, including how BIS views the EU’s requirement for a “no-Russia” clause. The agency also warned foreign corporate service providers about letting “bad actors” use rented addresses for billing or shipping, which they can use to evade detection when violating export controls.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is expanding the scope of its Russia/Belarus-related Foreign-Direct Product rule and adding new export controls on certain computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools-related software, the agency said last week. The FDP rule changes, effective Aug. 27, allow BIS to “more aggressively target” third-country companies procuring controlled goods that are indirectly sent to Russia, BIS said, while the CNC machine tool controls, effective Sept. 16, will prevent those tools in Russia and Belarus from receiving certain software updates.