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During the week of May 13, 2019, the Trump administration announced two new measures that have the potential to cut off certain foreign companies, particularly Chinese technology company Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., from the U.S. technology and telecommunications market. These provisions follow legislation passed in 2018 prohibiting U.S. government agencies and contractors from using Huawei products and reflect a heightened concern regarding the national security risks associated with non-U.S. entities’ involvement in the U.S. technology and telecommunications sectors.

On May 16, 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) filed a Federal Register notice adding Huawei, along with 68 of Huawei’s non-U.S. affiliates, to its Entity List. The Entity List identifies companies that BIS reasonably believes to be involved in “activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.”

On May 15, 2019, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain. The new Executive Order (E.O.) establishes the legal authority to prohibit certain transactions involving “information and communications technology or services” where a foreign party acquires an interest in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction. While the E.O. does not mention any specific country or company, recent events strongly suggest that Chinese companies generally, and Huawei specifically, may be targets of the new E.O.

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Photo of Kara M. Bombach Kara M. Bombach

Kara Bombach assists companies and organizations to lawfully export goods, technology and services around the globe. She places emphasis on helping clients achieve practical, workable solutions to complex regulatory situations arising under anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures (U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and

Kara Bombach assists companies and organizations to lawfully export goods, technology and services around the globe. She places emphasis on helping clients achieve practical, workable solutions to complex regulatory situations arising under anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures (U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and OECD Convention), export control laws (EAR and ITAR), anti-boycott laws, and special sanctions (embargoes) maintained by the U.S. government (OFAC and other agencies) against various countries (including Iran, Cuba and Russia), entities and individuals. In cases of foreign investment in the United States, Kara advises on the Exon-Florio provisions relating to U.S. national security concerns. She represents companies before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and also assists clients in mitigating foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) as may be required by CFIUS or U.S. national industrial security regulations.

Kara regularly represents clients in matters before U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State, Treasury and Defense. Kara has significant experience representing individuals and entities before OFAC in delisting matters and challenges to OFAC sanctions designations.

She advises national and multi-national companies (including Fortune® 5) on best practices in the development and delivery of compliance policies and procedures, training, and risk assessments, as well as executing cross-border export, sanctions and anti-corruption due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, targeted internal risk assessments, and compliance investigations.

Kara also counsels international not-for-profit and relief/aid organizations on best practices in economic sanctions, trade, and anti-corruption compliance issues that arise in their global operations, frequently in challenging and austere environments. She has provided legal services to organizations such as Save the Children (US), ONE Campaign, Mercy Corps, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Not on Our Watch/The Sentry, and The Enough Project.

Photo of Cyril T. Brennan Cyril T. Brennan

Cyril (Cy) Brennan focuses his practice on international trade regulation and compliance, with an emphasis on U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. Cy handles matters regarding the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), U.S. sanctions programs administered by…

Cyril (Cy) Brennan focuses his practice on international trade regulation and compliance, with an emphasis on U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. Cy handles matters regarding the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), U.S. sanctions programs administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce’s anti-boycott regulations. In addition, he represents clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and advises clients on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the foreign direct investment reporting requirements of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and other trade and investment-related regulations in the context of mergers and acquisitions.

Photo of Sonali Dohale Sonali Dohale

Sonali Dohale assists companies engaged in international business navigate U.S. international trade laws and regulations. She counsels clients on a range of economic sanctions and export controls issues, including those arising under sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office…

Sonali Dohale assists companies engaged in international business navigate U.S. international trade laws and regulations. She counsels clients on a range of economic sanctions and export controls issues, including those arising under sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Sonali also represents companies engaged in cross-border mergers and acquisitions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Her practice also involves assisting companies with internal investigations and compliance programs under various anti-corruption regimes (including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines).