White House Supply Chain Order Concerns Tech, ITI Representative Says

The U.S. technology industry is concerned about effects of an information and communications technology and services supply chain executive order released earlier this year, said John Miller, Information Technology Industry Council senior vice president-policy. Companies are nervous about potential restrictions that may arise from the order, which required the Commerce Department to issue regulations barring certain ICT-related transactions within 150 days. The regulations’ due date was in October, but none has been issued. “There’s been understandably a high degree of anxiety regarding what these rules may look like when they come out,” Miller told a Washington International Trade Association event. The order was broader than his industry expected, he said Wednesday, causing some to fear the order’s scope could impact a wide range of technologies and goods. “It potentially impacts all ICT products and services -- full stop,” Miller said. “Not just telecommunication networks.” This could lead to impacts on a broad range of transactions and significantly affect trade, Miller said. “It names acquisition, importations, transfer, installation, dealing in or use of ICT products and services,” he said. “It’s a pretty wide scope of potential companies that are impacted.” Friday, the White House didn't comment.