In this episode I take a critical look at the newly released BIS rule for selling NVIDIA H200 Chips to China. What does the rule actually lay out, and is this an effective policy that will protect American technology and interests? I break down why I think this rule falls short.

Links:

https://www.bis.gov/press-release/department-commerce-revises-license-review-policy-semiconductors-exported-china

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-00789.pdf?utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list&utm_medium=email&utm_source=federalregister.gov

https://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-restoring-american-semiconductor-manufacturing-leadership

https://www.csis.org/podcasts/ai-policy-podcast/future-nvidias-h200-china-and-pentagons-new-ai-strategy

https://www.cfr.org/articles/consequences-exporting-nvidias-h200-chips-china

https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/cnas-insights-unpacking-the-h200-export-policy

https://www.cfr.org/articles/new-ai-chip-export-policy-china-strategically-incoherent-and-unenforceable

In this episode I cover a topic that has been weighing on my mind in recent months. China has dominated the news cycle, and it seems to me that the United State's posture towards China is weakening. From the postponed Affiliates Rule to allowing the sale of NVIDIA H200 Chips, I cover what I view is a concerning trend of appeasement towards China, and how it negatively affects the U.S. and the broader status quo.

Links:

https://www.uscc.gov/research/chinas-facilitation-sanctions-and-export-control-evasion#_Toc213758808

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-citizens-and-chinese-nationals-arrested-exporting-artificial-intelligence-technology

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/countering-chinas-challenge-to-american-ai-leadership

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/11/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-strikes-deal-on-economic-and-trade-relations-with-china/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdgs7g6jw1w

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-authorities-shut-down-major-china-linked-ai-tech-smuggling-network

We're approaching the New Year, so I thought it would be a good idea to look at some upcoming ITAR updates that are scheduled for the near future. In this episode I break down the upcoming Interim Final Rules and Final Rules that are scheduled, and highlight the importance of why staying up to date on these changes can be beneficial for your business.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/23/2024-24091/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-itar-us-munitions-list-categories-iv-and-xv

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/07/29/2024-16501/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-revisions-to-definition-and-controls-related-to-defense

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/20/2024-18043/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-exemption-for-defense-trade-and-cooperation-among

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/02/2022-01889/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-corrections-and-clarifications-for-export-and-reexport

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/27/2021-11053/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-regular-employee

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/15/2024-18249/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-amendments-to-the-definition-of-activities-that-are-not

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPub=true&agencyCode=&showStage=active&agencyCd=1400&csrf_token=8CBC06EB7A55E0CB034A8E9232CACAF1674B064F48C51D71854C0FFA9B88BD5A7D7A0BE2ED9783B4704ACC83A1302B3321CC

A government shutdown certainly didn't slow the news cycle this month. This month was filled with deals, deals, and other trade issues, primarily focused on critical minerals and rare earth metals. I take a brief look at all of those deals (unless another new one came out after I finished!) and a few other stories that made the headlines this month on Russia and Canada. What's the breakdown of these new deals, what's in them, what do they aim to accomplish? Tune in and find out.

Just as predicted, the export control relief targeting Syria was finally published this month. In this episode I take a deep dive into what our sanctions/export control stance towards Syria was up to this point, and examine the reforms that have come through to see what this new stance means for trade with Syria.

https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-eases-export-controls-syria

https://www.bis.gov/node/18307

https://www.bis.gov/regulations/ear/746#section-746.9

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/02/2025-16724/relaxing-export-controls-for-syria

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/31

August saw several important events related to peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with America playing an important role in facilitating. But what does the future look like for American sanctions and export controls against Russia? To understand that, we'll first need a refresher on where we currently stand. Tune in and find out!

In this episode I breakdown the recently released AI Action Plan from the Trump administration. What's in it? How does it relate to export controls? And what is industry's reaction? Tune in to find out!

In this episode we take a look at our current trade relationship with Iran with regards to sanctions and export controls. With the recent hostilities combined with a turbulent trade policy in general shaking things up, it's important to remember that some hard lines may remain, and sanctions against Iran will likely be one of those lines in the sand.