The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comments on a draft list of various emerging technologies that may soon be subject to additional US export controls. Once finalized, this list of emerging technologies will subject covered technology and associated products to new export licensing requirements. Technologies on the list also will be subject to the newly expanded jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Accordingly, technology companies and investors may wish to submit comments to help BIS shape how it thinks about, defines and controls such emerging technologies.

On November 19, 2018, BIS published the ANPRM as part of its efforts to determine what should constitute "emerging technologies" for export control and CFIUS review purposes. Specifically, BIS is seeking comments to help it develop criteria to identify "emerging technologies that are important to the national security of the United States for which effective controls can be implemented that avoid negatively affecting US leadership in the science, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors."

BIS has identified 14 general categories of technology (listed below) that it believes may contain "specific emerging technologies that are essential to the national security of the United States." (Importantly, BIS stated that it does not intend to expand its jurisdiction to cover technologies that are not currently subject to the Export Administration Regulations, nor alter existing controls for products and technologies already specifically described on the Commerce Control List.) The public is encouraged to submit comments that address any of the following issues on or before December 19, 2018:

  1. the development of the enumerated emerging technologies in foreign countries;
  2. the effect that export controls may have on the development of the emerging technologies in the United States; and
  3. the effectiveness of export controls on limiting the proliferation of the technologies in foreign countries.

Once the new export controls are implemented – likely in early 2019 – covered technologies will be subject to more restrictive export licensing requirements. Such licensing requirements will affect where products embodying the technologies can be sold, where research and development with respect to the technologies can take place, how the technologies can be accessed and used within companies, and the employment of non-US persons who will have access to the technologies.

Of equal significance, covered technologies will fall within the definition of "critical technology" for purposes of the CFIUS Pilot Program. Foreign investments involving US companies that "produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate or develop" critical technologies for use in any of 27 specified industries will be subject to the Pilot Program, which requires a declaration describing the transaction to be submitted to CFIUS at least 45 days prior to closing. Failure to submit a declaration when one is required can result in CFIUS imposing so-called "mitigation measures," including the forced unwinding of the transaction, as well as civil fines up to the value of the transaction in question. Therefore, the criteria and final list of emerging technologies will have a significant effect on foreign investments in US companies and on the efforts of US companies involved with such technologies to raise funds.

Companies and investors should also be aware that BIS is in the process of crafting a definition for "foundational technologies," another component of the definition of "critical technologies" that will be subject to the CFIUS Pilot Program. Although BIS has not yet issued an ANPRM concerning foundational technologies, we anticipate one in early 2019.

General technology categories

  1. Biotechnology, such as:
    1. nanobiology
    2. synthetic biology
    3. genomic and genetic engineering
    4. neurotech
  2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, such as:
    1. neural networks and deep learning (e.g.,brain modeling, time series prediction, classification)
    2. evolution and genetic computation (e.g., genetic algorithms, genetic programming)
    3. reinforcement learning
    4. computer vision (e.g.,object recognition, image understanding)
    5. expert systems (e.g.,decision support systems, teaching systems)
    6. speech and audio processing (e.g.,speech recognition and production)
    7. natural language processing (e.g.,machine translation)
    8. planning (e.g.,scheduling, game playing)
    9. audio and video manipulation technologies (e.g., voice cloning, deepfakes)
    10. AI cloud technologies
    11. AI chipsets
  3. Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) technology

  4. Microprocessor technology, such as:
    1. systems-on-chip
    2. stacked memory on chip
  5. Advanced computing technology, such as:
    1. memory-centric logic
  6. Data analytics technology, such as:
    1. visualization
    2. automated analysis algorithms
    3. context-aware computing
  1. Quantum information and sensing technology, such as
    1. quantum computing
    2. quantum encryption
    3. quantum sensing
  2. Logistics technology, such as:
    1. mobile electric power
    2. modeling and simulation
    3. total asset visibility
    4. distribution-based logistics systems
  3. Additive manufacturing (e.g.,3D printing)

  4. Robotics such as:
    1. micro-drone and micro-robotic systems
    2. swarming technology
    3. self-assembling robots
    4. molecular robotics
    5. robot compliers
    6. smart dust
  5. Brain-computer interfaces, such as
    1. neural-controlled interfaces
    2. mind-machine interfaces
    3. direct neural interfaces
    4. brain-machine interfaces
  6. Hypersonics, such as:
    1. flight control algorithms
    2. propulsion technologies
    3. thermal protection systems
    4. specialized materials (for structures, sensors, etc.)
  7. Advanced Materials, such as:
    1. adaptive camouflage
    2. functional textiles (e.g., advanced fiber and fabric technology)
    3. biomaterials
  8. Advanced surveillance technologies, such as:
    1. faceprint and voiceprint technologies

If you have any specific questions, please reach out to any member of the CFIUS and export control team.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.