Tag: Commerce Department

Commerce Department Rescinds TikTok, WeChat Prohibited Transactions List

WASHINGTON—The Commerce Department said Monday it was rescinding a list of prohibited transactions with TikTok and WeChat that were issued in September as the Trump administration sought to block new U.S. downloads of both Chinese-owned apps. The withdrawals came after President Joe Biden earlier this month withdrew a series of Trump-era executive orders that sought…


US Agency Not Doing Its Job to Halt Tech to China’s Military: Congressional Report

The U.S. Commerce Department is failing to do its part to protect national security and keep sensitive technology out of the hands of China’s military, according to a U.S. congressional advisory report (pdf). The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission report said the Commerce Department had been slow to create a list of sensitive technology…


Biden’s Commerce Secretary Nominee Open to Some Section 230 Reforms

President Joe Biden’s pick for commerce secretary said on Tuesday that she is willing to work with Congress to amend a federal law that grants Big Tech companies protection from legal liability for users’ content. Gov. Gina Raimondo (D-R.I.), who has been tapped to lead the Commerce Department, was asked during her confirmation hearing about reforming…


US Sets New Rules to Block American Purchases of Chinese Telecom Tech

The U.S. Commerce Department on Jan. 14 announced new rules to allow the federal government to block American companies from buying information and communications technology from five foreign adversaries, including China. The new rules were made to implement an executive order (E.O. 13873) that President Donald Trump signed in May 2019 to safeguard U.S. supply…


US Adds 58 Chinese-Military-Linked Entities to New Trade Blacklist

The United States has named 103 Chinese and Russian companies and entities to a new trade blacklist, banning them from acquiring U.S. technology. The Commerce Department released the new “Military End User” (MEU) list on Dec. 21, alleging that 58 Chinese and 45 Russian entities had ties to the two countries’ military forces. U.S. companies…