National Security Counsel

On July 29, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) of the US Department of State proposed a new definition of the term “defense service.”

Hidden in the supplemental emergency appropriation bill (containing support for Israel and Ukraine) that President Biden signed on April 24 is a provision extending the current five-year SoL under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading with the Enemy Act to 10 years.

Two years after the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine and one week after the death of opposition politician and anticorruption activist Aleksey Navalny, the US government announced a new raft of sanctions and export controls targeting nearly 600 individuals and entities.

On January 25, almost two years after Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule (the Rule) strengthening existing export controls relating to Russia, Belarus, and Iran.

Every year, thousands of applications are filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by defense contractors and equipment manufacturers seeking approval for experimental wireless operations in support of National Security objectives.

Every year, thousands of applications are filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by defense contractors and equipment manufacturers seeking approval for experimental wireless operations in support of National Security objectives.

Just in case you were starting to get comfortable with last year’s massive raft of regulations on the advanced computing, supercomputer, and semiconductor industries in China, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has dropped another 400-something pages.

In the inaugural edition of 15 Minutes on Congress, host Dan Renberg is joined by his colleagues, former Sen. Byron Dorgan, former Congressman Phil English, and Reed Freeman, as they delve into the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation in Congress.

During the G7 meeting in Japan on May 19, 2023, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published two new rules aimed at further restricting Russia’s ability to obtain items needed to support its war efforts against Ukraine.

On Friday, February 24, the one-year anniversary of Russia’s further invasion into Ukraine, President Biden, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the US Department of State, and the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed new sanctions.

On Friday, February 24, 2023, on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s further invasion into Ukraine, President Biden, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed duties relating to Russia.

On October 28, 2022, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry (BIS) issued FAQs on the new semiconductor regulations. The FAQs are short and relatively clear (thank you!) even if they were released on a Friday afternoon.

The “Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act” (FACT Act), introduced by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish a list of every entity that both holds an FCC license or authorization.

On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released an interim final rule containing an enormous set of export controls that will likely damage the Chinese semiconductor, advanced computing, and supercomputer industries.

Well, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) waited until the summer was over, but timing may be the best part of the new export controls on Russia and Belarus (the “Rule”). Understanding the new Rule and how the old regulations have been amended is a bear.

The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act requires the Commission to publish and maintain a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the security and safety of US persons The FCC added equipment and services from three entities.

Longstanding concerns on Capitol Hill about certain “outbound” activities conducted by U.S. companies and investors, particularly in the technology sector, both in China as well as outside of China with a China nexus, have given rise to significant legislative developments this year.  

US Government agencies have announced concurrent reviews of the Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs, which may result in changes to the current tariff rates and product lists in the coming months. At the end of this report is a chart specifying the periods and deadlines this spring and summer.

On May 8, 2022 (aka Mother’s Day), the Biden Administration announced yet another series of export controls and sanctions measures intended to ratchet up the costs on Russia’s economy and limit its ability to continue its war in Ukraine. 

On Friday, April 8, 2022, the US Government added two more weapons to its artillery of actions against Russia and Belarus.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, the U.S. Government, in concert with the G7 and European Union, took significant additional sanctions actions against Russia “to impose severe and immediate economic costs on the Putin regime for its atrocities in Ukraine, including in Bucha.”

Last week, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) each held a hearing on the US Intelligence Community’s (IC) 2022 Annual Threat Assessment, a mandatory annual report prepared by the various US intelligence agencies.

On March 11, 2022, the President issued Executive Order 14068 (EO 14068) Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment with Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression.

In a coordinated effort, on March 2, 2022, the White House announced another round of broad trade controls and sanctions against Russia and now Belarus in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

On February 25 and 28, 2022, the US Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued its fifth and sixth actions against Russia.