Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura discussed export control and semiconductor issues during a meeting last week. The two spoke about the “importance of working together to promote and protect critical and emerging technologies, including through [research and development] and export controls, so as to support our technological competitiveness and to address our shared security interests,” Commerce said in a brief readout of the meeting. Executives from IBM and Japan's Rapidus also took part in the meeting “to share an overview of their ongoing collaboration on semiconductor R&D.” The meeting took place as Commerce solicits public comments, due Jan. 17, on priorities for export control cooperation with Japan (see 2211300003).
A revision to U.S. export regulations included in the fiscal year 2023 defense spending bill could lead to new end-use screening obligations for U.S. people and companies operating abroad, Akin Gump said in a Jan. 5 client alert. Although it remains unclear how and when the Bureau of Industry and Security will implement the change, the law firm said it could lead to new restrictions on activities that support foreign military, security or intelligence services even if the activity doesn’t involve technology subject to the Export Administration Regulations.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls released an update last week to its guidance for U.S. persons providing defense services abroad. The documents include an updated guidance for U.S. persons abroad (USPAB) authorization requests, a new sample certification letter for USPAB authorization requests, a new USPAB submission letter template and an updated set of frequently asked questions.
John Sullivan, former deputy secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to Russia, has rejoined Mayer Brown as a partner in the Washington, D.C., and New York offices, the firm announced. Sullivan's practice will center on issues relating to clients' business operations, "including global risk, US sanctions and export controls, international trade disputes and regulation, and foreign investment." Sullivan served as ambassador to Russia from 2020 to 2022 and as acting secretary of state from March to April 2018. He is also a distinguished fellow at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a distinguished senior fellow at Columbia University School of Law's National Security Law Program.
The U.K. updated its guidance on its Russian sanctions regime Jan. 5, the Export Control Joint Unit said. The guidance was changed to "clarify the application of prohibitions on the provision of technical assistance relating to, and making available or transferral of, aviation and space goods and technology or critical-industry goods and technology."
Japan and the U.S. need to coordinate investment in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology at the same time they cooperate on export controls, according to Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry. He spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Jan. 5.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated four people and two entities associated with the financial facilitation network of the Islamic State group, according to a Jan 5. news release. The network enabled the group’s recruitment and financing into and out of Iraq and Syria. The sanctions focus on the Islamic State group's head of foreign financing, Abd Al Hamid Salim Ibrahim Ismail Brukan al-Khatuni, and his network coordinated by his sons. Turkey's Treasury and Interior ministries also implemented an asset freeze against members of this network.
The Commerce Department published its fall 2022 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security, including one new rule that will finalize new chip export controls against China and others that could revise chemical weapons reporting requirements, the Export Administration Regulations and the Entity List.
Akin Gump promoted 15 lawyers to partner, effective Jan. 1. Among the new partners are Alexis Guinan and Jingli Jiang. Guinan's practice, based in Washington, centers on sanctions and international trade laws, the firm said. She has advised clients looking to evaluate sanctions and other trade restrictions "associated with their portfolio companies." Jiang's practice touches on international trade proceedings, "including export controls, sanctions, antitrust and other types of regulatory and corporate advice," the firm said. She is in the Beijing office.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the Biden administration to offer more general licenses to Cuban small businesses so they can avoid the sanctions on Cuba. Wyden, who visited Cuba in late December, said he'll be talking with Senate colleagues about how to help the Cuban private sector grow. He said in a Jan. 4 press release that a stronger private sector could both lay the foundations for "fundamental political and economic reforms" in Cuba and reduce Cuban migration to the U.S. -- which was nearly 250,000 in 2022.