A bipartisan group of eight House members May 15 introduced a companion to a Senate bill that would require export-controlled advanced computing chips to contain location verification mechanisms. The legislation is intended to prevent the diversion of chips to “adversaries” such as China.
Trade groups representing three strong exporting sectors -- soybeans, semiconductors and medical devices -- and an expert in critical minerals trade all told the Senate Finance Committee that higher tariffs on all countries and products, and constantly changing tariff policy, aren't good for American competitiveness.
Chris Pratt, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said May 15 that the Trump administration has directed him to address the delays and other complaints that are frequently made about the U.S. defense export process, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Del., introduced a bill May 13 aimed at speeding up arms shipments to Taiwan to help the country defend itself against China.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted 17-11 May 14 to approve former Energy Department official Paul Dabbar to be deputy commerce secretary, sending his nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. Asked in written questions whether he would ensure the Bureau of Industry and Security has the resources necessary to do its job, Dabbar said he would ensure the Commerce Department, including BIS, “completes its mission.” He also said he would work to "tighten export controls on critical and emerging technologies."
The U.K. should be wary of language in the recently announced trade framework with the U.S. (see 2505090006) that calls on Britain to comply with certain supply chain security requirements, which they said the U.S. could use to pressure the U.K. in its trading relationship with China, the U.K. Parliament heard from witnesses this week.
The U.S. government could improve its ability to wield its economic statecraft tools, including sanctions, export controls and investment screening, by making several organizational changes, such as creating an interagency coordinating body co-led by a new high-ranking official at the State Department, a researcher told the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific May 14.
The State Department approved two possible military sales to the United Arab Emirates, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said May 12.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a leading congressional advocate of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) security partnership, announced May 13 that he has been named co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus.
House Select Committee on China ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said May 13 that he’s concerned the potential transfer of advanced U.S. computing chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could allow the sensitive technology to fall into China’s hands.