Companies in the Czech Republic plan to ask the Bureau of Industry and Security to loosen restrictions on U.S. exports of advanced artificial intelligence chips that were put in place as part of a BIS rule in January that tightened controls for nations around the world.
The State Department needs a better system to review export license applications for firearms, and the Bureau of Industry and Security needs to address employee shortages that are hindering its end-use checks for those exports, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report.
President Donald Trump has nominated congressional staffer Landon Heid to be assistant secretary of commerce for export administration at the Bureau of Industry and Security, the White House told the Senate Feb. 11.
U.S. export controls on computing chips and chipmaking equipment are more likely to slow China's advances in artificial intelligence than in military modernization, a researcher said during a Feb. 6 hearing of the congressionally mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted, 16-12, Feb. 5 to advance President Donald Trump’s choice of Howard Lutnick to be commerce secretary, sending the nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. The vote came days after Lutnick promised to scrutinize U.S. export controls on advanced artificial intelligence chips, telling lawmakers in recently published comments that a review of the restrictions will be “a top priority” if he’s confirmed.
Sahar Hafeez, a former senior adviser in the Bureau of Industry and Security undersecretary’s office (see 2107270016 and 2107280051), has rejoined Pillsbury Winthrop as an international trade and national security lawyer, the firm announced this week. Hafeez was most recently a senior adviser to the assistant secretary for industry and analysis at the Commerce Department before leaving government last month.
President Donald Trump has nominated Jeffrey Kessler to be the Bureau of Industry and Security undersecretary, according to the Feb. 3 edition of the Congressional Record. If confirmed, Kessler would replace Biden administration official Alan Estevez in overseeing BIS. The White House didn't respond to a request for more information on Kessler, who is a Washington trade lawyer who was assistant secretary of commerce for enforcement and compliance during Trump's first term. Kessler didn't respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. should prevent China from obtaining American technology it can use to advance its artificial intelligence capabilities, Commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick said Jan. 29.
Jeremy Pelter will serve as the acting Commerce Department secretary and David Lebryk will serve as the acting Treasury Department secretary as nominees Howard Luntnick and Scott Bessent, respectively, look to be confirmed for those roles by the Senate, according to the White House. Pelter previously served as acting undersecretary for the Bureau of Industry and Security when President Joe Biden first took office in 2021 2101290059 and 2109080062). Lebryk previously served as Treasury’s fiscal assistant secretary.
President Donald Trump took several steps during his first day in office to reverse, delay or scrutinize trade- and sanctions-related actions introduced by the Biden administration, ordering agencies to study existing export controls for possible loopholes, consider changes to outbound investment restrictions, or possibly postpone some of Biden’s recently issued rulemakings. Trump also revoked a sanctions authority that had targeted Israeli settlers in the West Bank and previewed plans to step up sanctions against drug cartels.