This bill authorizes specified departments to propose regulations on U.S. export controls. It also directs the Department of State to evaluate China's military-civil fusion strategy (a national strategy to eliminate barriers between China's civilian commercial sector and its military and defense industrial sectors).
Specifically, the bill authorizes the State Department and the Departments of Defense and Energy to propose new rules or amendments to existing rules under the Export Administration Regulations. These departments may submit proposals directly to the Export Administration Review Board (EARB), which reviews applications for export licenses. The EARB must vote to accept or reject the proposal within 30 days of the proposal's submission, but the bill allows a 30-day extension.
The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Securities (BIS) must initiate the rulemaking process for each proposal accepted by a simple majority vote of the EARB.
BIS must also coordinate (instead of consult) with these departments on activities related to U.S. export controls.
The bill also requires the State Department, within 30 days of the bill's enactment, to complete a review of the implications of China's military-civil fusion strategy on U.S. export control policy and national security. The State Department must consider proposing to the EARB (or any successor entity) any change to U.S. export control policy identified pursuant to the review. The EARB must vote on the adoption of each proposal.
The State Department must report to Congress on the activities required by the bill.