U.S. Department of Commerce Examining ‘Foundational’ Technologies for Heightened Export Control

(GuruFocus) The US is exploring increased control and oversight over export-sensitive technologies and foreign-inbound investment. The Department of Commerce is examining 14 categories of “foundational and emerging” technologies such as quantum technologies that can potentially be made subject to heightened export controls as part of a new rule making (that promulgates the Export Control Reform Act [ECRA])—some of these have explicit military applications (e.g., adaptive camouflage), but many others have civilian applications (e.g., AI, biotech, robotics).
Commerce will evaluate via: i) the development of emerging and foundational technologies in foreign countries; ii) the effect export controls may have on the development of such technologies in the United States; and iii) the effectiveness of export controls in limiting the proliferation of emerging and foundational technologies in foreign countries. Also, the new “foundational and emerging” technology categories defined by the Department of Commerce under ECRA will also affect the future scope of investment screening for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
Quantum Technologies is on the representative general categories of technology for which Commerce currently seeks to determine whether there are specific emerging technologies that are essential to the national security of the United States.
Quantum information and sensing technology, such as:
Quantum computing;
Quantum encryption; or
Quantum sensing.