The Information Technology Industry Council, a Washington-based trade association, has issued a new policy guide recommending the further integration of Europe into a single market to enhance industry competitiveness and innovation. In a press release issued on Wednesday, ITI said the playbook, “Vision 2030: How to Enable Innovation and Ensure Competitiveness and Resilience Across Europe,”...
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Category: Policy Updates
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GAO Urges Better Coordination on Screening Federal Funding for Foreign Research Projects
A Government Accountability Office study has identified gaps in evaluating federal funding for foreign research projects that could bring risks to U.S. national security. While awarding agencies generally blacklist foreign terrorist groups and specially designated persons and entities, the GAO study showed that government databases on blacklisted groups and individuals lack standard identifying information, such...
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US Commerce Department Revives President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration
The U.S. Department of Commerce is seeking membership nominations to the newly reestablished President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration, according to a Federal Register announcement by the department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. The PECSEA advises the department secretary on matters related to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and other laws and...
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US Legislators Want Stronger Trade Actions to Curb China’s Dominance in Legacy Chips
U.S. House lawmakers want stronger actions to curtail China’s continued domination of older-generation microchip manufacturing. In a letter addressed to U.S. government business and trade officials, Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Raja Krishnamoorth, D-Ill., recommended implementing tariffs and other efforts to reduce the overreliance on China for less-advanced semiconductors in use across several industries. The legislators called on...
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Netherlands Plans $274M Investment to Protect Cables, Pipelines in North Sea
The Netherlands wants to invest $274 million to fortify security in the North Sea, where there are thousands of miles of cables and pipelines. In a letter to the Dutch Parliament, Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren and State Defence Secretary Christophe van der Maat said that the government will install cameras, radar systems and automatic identification...
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Treasury Sanctions Entities for Export of US-Made UAV Components to Iran
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is imposing sanctions on companies and individuals based in the Middle East and East Asia for the export of American and foreign-made components to support Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production. In a notice published Tuesday, OFAC named Iran-based Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Mehdi Dehghani Mohammadabadi...
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US Expects Canada’s Defense Bill Update to Increase Military Spending
The United States is confident that Canada’s upcoming defense policy update will increase military spending to boost capabilities and meet its responsibilities as part of NATO. David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, shared in a recent interview that sources from Ottawa made assurances that the policy change will address concerns among military officials over...
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NATO Increases Military Budget to $2.2B to Better Address Security Challenges
NATO has announced a 12 percent increase in its 2024 military spending, setting a budget of $2.2 billion to support defense operations across the globe. NATO member states also agreed to allocate $480.1 million for the alliance’s civil budget next year, providing for an 18.2 percent hike to cover personnel, operating costs and program expenditures...
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US Hands Sanctions to New Entities Supporting Russia’s War Campaign
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions against third-country actors identified to be materially supporting Russia’s war campaign in Ukraine. According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the action implements the Group of Seven’s decision to take down the Kremlin’s military procurement networks, including individuals and entities that are helping secure...
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US Eases Some Security Controls on Exports to Allies
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has eased some export license requirements and expanded export license exceptions for key U.S. allies. One of the BIS measures released on Thursday removes export curbs on certain pathogens and toxins of interest to Australia Group member countries but are not under Chemical Weapons Convention...