The Bureau of Industry and Security has begun a broad review of new export controls on surveillance technologies going to China, which may also include additions to the agency’s Entity List, Acting Commerce Undersecretary for Industry and Security Cordell Hull said. Hull called the review “comprehensive” and “in-depth,” saying it could lead to controls over advanced surveillance tools, artificial intelligence software and biometric technologies.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to reflect recent changes made by the United Nations to its Central African Republic arms embargo (see 2007200005 and 1909170054), a notice released July 21 said. The change, effective July 22, allows for more exemptions for certain exports to the region. DDTC also specified that “no broker … may engage in” CAR-related brokering activities subject to the ITAR without agency approval. The notice also makes two technical edits to ITAR language.
A Lebanese national was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiring to illegally export U.S. drone parts and technology to Hezbollah, the Justice Department said July 20. Usama Darwich Hamade violated the international Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Export Administration Regulations, the Arms Export Controls Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations when he tried to illegally export a range of U.S.-origin items, including “inertial measurement units,” digital compasses, a jet engine, piston engines and recording binoculars. During an investigation, the Justice Department said the U.S. discovered Hezbollah was the “ultimate beneficiary” of the exports.
Three Republican lawmakers urged the White House to do more to sanction China-backed cyber attackers who steal U.S. intellectual property. In a July 20 letter, Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; Greg Walden, R-Ore.; and Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., said Chinese hackers are more frequently targeting U.S. agencies to try to steal information and public health data related to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs began an interagency review for a proposed Bureau of Industry and Security rule to control “software” for the operation of “automated nucleic acid assemblers and synthesizers.” BIS will request comments on the proposed export controls. OIRA received the rule July 20.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 13-17 in case you missed them.
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the U.K. was not “strong-armed” by the U.S. into recent actions against Beijing and Hong Kong, saying the U.K. shares many of the same policy goals as the U.S. But Raab did say recent U.S. restrictions against Huawei and Chinese officials have factored into U.K. policymaking.
The Department of Justice charged a California electronics company, its president and an employee with trying to illegally export chemicals to a Chinese company on the U.S. Entity List. President Tao Jiang, employee Bohr Winn-Shih and the company, Broad Tech System Inc., ordered the chemicals from a Rhode Island company before trying to ship the items to China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 55th Research Institute (aka NEDI) (see 2006030032), the Justice Department said July 20. The shipment would have violated the Export Control Reform Act.
The State Department sanctioned Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Chechen Republic, for human rights violations, a July 20 notice said. The designation also targets Kadyrov’s spouse, Medni Kadyrova, and daughters Aishat Kadyrova and Karina Kadyrova.
Germany, France and Italy said they will pursue sanctions against countries that continue to violate the United Nations arms embargo against Libya, a July 18 joint statement said. The countries urged “foreign actors to end their increasing interference” and said they are “ready to consider the possible use of sanctions should breaches to the embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue.” The statement came about a week after the U.S. threatened sanctions against foreign militaries interfering in Libya (see 2007150020).