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Commerce Department cuts off China’s biggest chipmaker from US tech
US Department of Commerce added dozens of Chinese companies to its Entity List this morning, but one looms especially large. Citing concerns over national security, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation — China’s single largest chip maker — has now effectively been blacklisted from buying components from US tech suppliers. “We will not allow advanced U.S. technology to help build the military of an increasingly belligerent adversary,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Commerce Department extends deadline for a TikTok sale to the 27th
While a presidential order banning TikTok had been held up by a judge, the president’s August 14th executive order still required a sale.
US Commerce Department delays TikTok ban following court ruling
TikTok will live to see another day.
US slaps trade restrictions on China's top chipmaker
The US has put limits on exports to China's top chip manufacturer, SMIC, potentially hurting a host of Chinese tech compaines.
Judge blocks US ban on WeChat app downloads
A judge has blocked the Commerce Department's attempt to ban WeChat downloads, citing First Amendment concerns.
Trump approves TikTok deal with Oracle and Walmart 'in concept'
Trump has tentatively approved a deal that would see Oracle and Walmart claim stakes in TikTok as it forms a new company to avoid a US ban.
US considers blocking deals with China's largest chip maker
The US is considering blacklisting China's largest chip maker, SMIC, in a move that could escalate an ongoing trade war.
US tightens restrictions on Huawei to close trade loopholes
The US is expanding trade restrictions meant to limit Huawei's access to semiconductors.
Huawei's expired US license is bad news for phone owners
The Commerce Department has allowed Huawei's trade ban exceptions to expire, possibly marking the end to phone OS updates.
US lets companies work with Huawei on 5G standards
The Commerce Department has tweaked its rules to let US companies work with Huawei on tech standards like 5G.
More than 20 attorneys general are trying to ban 3D-printed guns
The fight over 3D-printed guns has gone back and forth for years. One side wins, the other appeals and so on. Now, 21 US attorneys general are banding together to renew the fight and sue the Trump administration. Their lawsuit, submitted Thursday, challenges new federal regulations that could, once again, allow blueprints for making 3D-printed guns to be posted on the internet.
US limits AI exports over fears it will fall into Chinese hands
The US government's concerns about Chinese involvement in tech are leading to significant restrictions on AI. The Commerce Department is instituting a rule on January 6th that will require companies to obtain a license if they want to export certain AI-powered geospatial imagery software to other countries besides Canada. Not surprisingly, officials are worried that the technology (which helps drones and satellites identify objects) might fall into the hands of China and other political challengers.
Microsoft gets US license to resume selling software to Huawei
The US government is still bent on blacklisting Huawei in most respects, but the Chinese tech giant just got an important reprieve. The Commerce Department has granted Microsoft a license to "export mass-market software" to Huawei, according to a Microsoft statement to Bloomberg. The American company declined to say just what "mass-market" meant, but Windows and Office theoretically count -- Huawei might not have trouble offering PCs like the MateBook X Pro.
US will grant Huawei trade ban exemptions 'very shortly'
The Commerce Department's de facto blacklisting of Huawei might loosen slightly in the near future. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Bloomberg in an interview that licenses allowing US companies to deal with Huawei would arrive "very shortly." There have been 260 requests, or "more than we would've thought," but Ross cautioned against assuming that the US government would rubber stamp them. Companies should assume they won't get a license, even if the US expects to approve "quite a few" of these exceptions.
Trump administration may blacklist Chinese firms that routinely copy tech
The US trade war is meant in part to punish China for allowing intellectual property theft, but the Trump administration might not be convinced it goes far enough. Washington Post sources claim that White House advisor Peter Navarro is exploring a presidential executive order that would put Chinese companies on the Commerce Department's entity list if they frequently violate American copyrights and patents. A Chinese firm that routinely copies device designs or software features could find itself blacklisted in the US even if it didn't pose a national security threat.
US will reportedly give Huawei another temporary reprieve
Huawei hasn't had any luck reversing the US trade ban despite promises of removing some restrictions. It might be a long while before the company is forced to cut all its ties, however. Reuters sources have claimed the Commerce Department is expected to grant Huawei another 90-day "temporary general license" that will renew a reprieve set to expire on August 19th. The arrangement will reportedly let Huawei both maintain current telecom networks and supply software updates for phones. Your P30 Pro should still be up to date months after the ban took effect, and might even stay current throughout 2019.
Huawei lays off two thirds of its US research division
The rumors of Huawei laying off a large chunk of its US staff have come to pass. The company is cutting over 600 of the 850 jobs at its Futurewei Technologies research wing in the country in response to the "curtailment of business operations" by the US government's trade blacklisting. Simply put, the researchers can't do their jobs now that it's illegal for Futurewei to transfer much of its work to its parent company.
Huawei preps 'extensive' US job cuts despite partial reprieve
Huawei appears to be prepared for a long trade battle despite the US government's promises of easing some restrictions. Wall Street Journal sources claim Huawei is prepping "extensive" layoffs at its Futurewei research offices in the US, with "hundreds" of people out of 850 expected to lose their jobs. Some of its China-born staff will reportedly have the option of staying with the company if they return to their homeland.
FedEx sues US over mandate to monitor Huawei shipments
FedEx has already been accused of diverting Huawei's shipments, and it's not keen on dealing with more complaints. The courier has sued the US Commerce Department (including Secretary Wilbur Ross and Assistant Secretary Nazak Nikakhtar) to absolve itself of the need to monitor packages for potential export violations by Huawei and other companies. It argued that the requirement not only violated the Constitution's protections for due process, but was technically unfeasible given the scale of FedEx's operations.
Tesla granted tariff exemption on Japanese aluminum for battery cells
Tesla has won an exemption from paying the 10 percent tariffs placed on imported aluminum from Japan. It filed a request with the Commerce Department in April for a tariff exclusion on 10 million kilograms of the metal per year from Nippon Light Metal Co for battery cells made in the Nevada Gigafactory. The department approved it this month.