Tech Industry Opposes Potential Expanded Export Restrictions

Technology and semiconductor trade groups objected last week to increased export restrictions under consideration by the Trump administration, saying the controls could lead to uncertainty. BSA|The Software Alliance, CompTIA, the Information Technology Industry Council, Semiconductor Industry Association, Software & Information Industry Association, U.S. Council for International Business and others wrote Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, asking the administration to seek input before finalizing the rule. If approved by President Donald Trump, the measures could block Huawei and other Chinese companies from buying U.S. semiconductors. “Initially, there was some talk about a generic change in de minimis” threshold, said Richard Sawaya, vice president of the National Foreign Trade Council, one of nine groups that signed the letter to Ross. “I think the effort within the interagency process is to narrow that and tailor it as much as possible so that it is Huawei-specific,” Sawaya said in an interview. The Commerce Department didn't comment Friday.