U.S. and Chinese trade tensions could last for years and require a more clear, consistent approach from the U.S., experts told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission June 24. The U.S. should not address competition challenges through decoupling, they said, but should instead invest more heavily in technology research, pursue more involvement at international standards bodies and work with trade partners to counter China’s rise.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 15-19 in case you missed them.
One of the nominees for director general of the World Trade Organization, Hamid Mamdouh, told the Washington International Trade Association that the failings of the appellate body are because the WTO has abandoned negotiations. This is the same view held by the U.S., which has brought the issue to a head by killing the appellate body. Mamdouh, a senior counsel at King & Spalding, was speaking during a WITA webinar June 23.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. is closely monitoring Chinese investors who are trying to take advantage of struggling U.S. companies, trade lawyers said. CFIUS is also focusing on the semiconductor sector, where Chinese entities are hoping to evade recent U.S. rules that impose more strict license restrictions on sales of semiconductors and other technology to China and Huawei (see 2005150058), the lawyers said.
Less than a week after signing a bill that will sanction Chinese officials for human rights abuses, President Donald Trump said he had held off on the sanctions so as not to interfere with the U.S.-China trade deal, a June 21 Axios report said. The report comes amid a series of U.S. and China steps that have further deteriorated the trade relationship, including threats of U.S. sanctions and moves by China to reduce agricultural purchases.
The European Union has not yet decided whether to reciprocate the United Kingdom’s six-month grace period on import entry requirements after Brexit (see 2006120031), said João Vale de Almeida, the EU’s ambassador to the U.K. While de Almeida said the EU wants to be “forceful and systematic” in protecting its market, it is first focused on reaching a withdrawal agreement and will decide on customs issues later.
U.S. universities may be forced to turn down research activities -- including COVID-19 research -- due to the Bureau of Industry and Security's increased restrictions on shipments to military end-users (see 2004270027), the Association of University Export Control Officers said in comments to the agency. The restrictions are so broad that they could severely restrict academic activities that benefit the U.S. despite those activities having “no military or defense application,” the AUECO said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security's increased restrictions on shipments to military end-users (see 2004270027) presents “significant questions” for industry, which may struggle to comply with the new due diligence expectations, said Ajay Kuntamukkala, an export controls lawyer with Hogan Lovells and a former BIS official. Kuntamukkala said the rule will “significantly impact business transactions” with Chinese entities.
Amid rising U.S.-China technology competition, Congress will continue to push for increased restrictions on inbound Chinese investment, said Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill. LaHood also said the Trump administration -- which has experienced success using tariffs and export controls to gain ground in trade negotiations -- will likely continue to leverage those measures, particularly against China.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for June 8-12 in case you missed them.