Pandemic Causing Big Backlog in Huawei Export License Applications, Says BIS

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security is experiencing significant delays to its Huawei licensing decisions due to low-productivity telework protocols in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, said Eileen Albanese, director of the bureau's Office of National Security and Technology Transfer Controls, at a Massachusetts Export Center virtual event Friday. Communications between agencies have been hampered, she said, causing lengthy adjudications and a backlog of applications for licenses to sell to Huawei (see 2009300018). “COVID-19 really did have a significant impact on Huawei licenses, more so than any other group of licenses,” said Albanese. She blamed the delays on lengthy, virtual interagency meetings and difficulties in remotely accessing licensing platforms. “We still have a bunch that we have to go through,” she said of the backlog. Kevin Wolf, an export controls lawyer with Akin Gump, told the event his clients have had applications “pending for months and months and months,” including some dating to 2019.