Three top Senate Democrats urged President Joe Biden to reverse a Trump-era rule that transferred export controls of firearms, ammunition and other defense items from the State Department to the Commerce Department, saying the transfer creates less oversight over dangerous weapons exports. The January 2020 rule (see 2001170030) put in place “less-restrictive controls” over a range of lethal weapons, Sens. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Dianne Feinstein of California and Patrick Leahy of Vermont said in an April 19 letter. They also said the transfer eliminated Congress’ ability to “be aware of and legally disapprove” of sales above $1 million.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for April 12-16 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control fined an Oklahoma steel manufacturer about $435,000 for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, OFAC said April 19. Alliance Steel committed 61 sanctions violation by maintaining a “business relationship” with an Iranian company for five years, OFAC said.

Congress should codify regulations from a November executive order that imposed investment bans on certain Chinese companies with ties to the military, said Matt Pottinger, a former deputy national security adviser during the Trump administration. He also said the U.S. should take a stricter stance on export licenses involving semiconductor shipments as China tries to become the world’s “only” supplier of advanced technologies.

The U.S. will likely continue to update the regulations for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which has created some complications for industry, trade lawyers told the American Bar Association April 15. The recently revised regulations have also severely reduced incoming Chinese investments, which could have long-term implications, one lawyer said.

President Joe Biden signed a sweeping executive order authorizing new sanctions against Russia, allowing the U.S. to designate people and companies operating in Russia’s defense and technology sectors or involved in attempts to influence foreign elections. The order, announced April 15, also authorizes sanctions against a range of Russian government officials and their associates as well as people and companies involved in Russian corruption, actions to “undermine democratic processes,” and human rights violations and transactions designed to circumvent U.S. sanctions.

Kevin Wolf, a former top Bureau of Industry and Security official, presented his strategy for the future of U.S. export controls to address emerging security challenges during an April 15 Akin Gump webinar. He also briefly assessed U.S. export control policy during the Donald Trump administration and continued to say he isn’t behind the rumors that he’s being considered for the BIS undersecretary role see 2104070026).

The U.S. should quickly pass a bipartisan bill that would increase U.S. investment in technology research and high-tech manufacturing, technology experts and academic leaders told the Senate April 14. Some lawmakers argued that the bill, which is partly aimed at boosting U.S. technology competition with China, should also include measures to better protect U.S. critical technologies from being stolen by the Chinese government.

Huawei doesn’t expect to make rapid progress with President Joe Biden's administration on U.S. sanctions, Rotating Chairman Eric Xu told analysts April 12 in a streamed presentation. Huawei faces challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitics and U.S. sanctions, Xu said. Meanwhile, Biden hosted executives from AT&T, Google, Intel, automakers and other tech companies for a virtual discussion of supply chain issues. Xu said the U.S. is responsible for supply disruptions.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for April 5-9 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.