Department of Commerce
Latest
US blocks companies aiding Chinese military's quantum computing efforts
The US has added eight companies to a blocklist to prevent them from helping China's military adopt quantum computing.
NTIA's interactive broadband map highlights the digital divide
The US now has its first interactive map highlighting the 'digital divide' where broadband is hindered by slow speeds and poverty.
US blacklists Chinese supercomputer organizations over military support
The US Commerce Department has put seven Chinese supercomputer organizations on its Entity List for contributing to China's military.
DJI can no longer buy components from the US for its drones
The Commerce Department said the drone maker 'enabled wide-scale human rights abuses within China.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
Huawei says it's a 'victim of bullying by the US'
To no one's surprise, Huawei isn't reacting calmly to losing key suppliers in the wake of the US' trade restrictions. Representative Abraham Liu said the company was the "victim of the bullying by the US administration," and that this was an attack on the "liberal, rules-based order." He added that the company wasn't taking the loss of Android support lying down. Huawei was "working closely" with Google to see how it could "handle the situation," Liu said, noting that Google had no motivations to block the company beyond complying with US law.
US may soften ban on Huawei to help existing users
The Trump administration might ease its Huawei trade ban... if ever so slightly. A Commerce Department spokeswoman told Reuters in a statement that it might soon grant Huawei a temporary license to "prevent the interruption" of service for existing networks and gear. Numerous internet providers and wireless carriers in rural and other low-population areas (including eastern Oregon and Wyoming) still have Huawei equipment, and the Commerce Department's trade ban would leave them hanging in the event of a system failure.
US and Luxembourg sign 'space commerce' pact
The current US government relishes the thought of bringing business to space, and it's now eager to make deals with countries that share the same dreams. The US has signed a memorandum of understanding with Luxembourg in a bid to cooperate further on space exploration, research and, to no one's surprise, a "business-friendly regulatory framework." Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister Étienne Schneider didn't mince words when talking about the pact -- his country is eager to make asteroid mining a reality, and the US relationship could be an "important step forward" in making use of those resources.
