[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32757-32758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13156]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

15 CFR Chapter VII

[Docket Number: 210617-0132]
RIN 0605-XD009


Rescission of Identification of Prohibited Transactions With 
Respect to TikTok and WeChat

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Identification of Prohibited Transactions; notification of 
rescission.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Executive Order 14034 of June 9, 2021 (Protecting 
Americans' Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries), this document 
confirms that the Secretary of Commerce has rescinded two actions 
issued under now-revoked Executive Orders: The September 18, 2020 
Identification of Prohibited Transactions related to TikTok, published 
on September 24, 2020, and the September 18, 2020 Identification of 
Prohibited Transactions related to WeChat filed for public inspection 
on September 18, 2020 and withdrawn before publication.

DATES: This rescission was effective June 16, 2021. Effective June 23, 
2021, the Department withdraws the Identification of Prohibited 
Transactions published at 85 FR 60061 on September 24, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    John Gifft, U.S. Department of Commerce; email: 
[email protected]; telephone: (202) 482-2617.
    For media inquiries: Brittany Caplin, Deputy Director of Public 
Affairs and Press Secretary, U.S. Department of

[[Page 32758]]

Commerce; telephone: (202) 482-4883; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 13942 of August 6, 2020, 
``Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok, and Taking Additional Steps to 
Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Information and 
Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain'', (85 FR 48637) 
found that the mobile application TikTok posed a threat to the United 
States and prohibited certain transactions with respect to ByteDance 
Ltd. or its subsidiaries, and directed the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) to identify transactions subject to the prohibitions. 
Similarly, Executive Order 13943 of August 6, 2020, ``Addressing the 
Threat Posed by WeChat, and Taking Additional Steps To Address the 
National Emergency With Respect to the Information and Communications 
Technology and Services Supply Chain'', (85 FR 48641) found that the 
mobile app WeChat posed a threat to the United States and prohibited 
certain transactions with respect to Tencent Holdings Ltd. or its 
subsidiaries, and directed the Secretary to identify transactions 
subject to the prohibitions.
    On September 18, 2020, the Department issued an Identification of 
Prohibited Transactions To Implement Executive Order 13942 and Address 
the Threat Posed by TikTok and the National Emergency With Respect to 
the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply 
Chain. A version of this Identification (with revised dates of 
effectiveness) was published in the Federal Register on September 24, 
2020 (85 FR 60061). Also on September 18, 2020, the Department issued 
an Identification of Prohibited Transactions To Implement Executive 
Order 13943 and Address the Threat Posed by WeChat and the National 
Emergency With Respect to the Information and Communications Technology 
and Services Supply Chain. This Identification was not published in the 
Federal Register, but it has remained available for public inspection 
on the Department's website. All prohibitions were enjoined by federal 
courts prior to taking effect.
    On June 9, 2021, Executive Order 14034 (Protecting Americans' 
Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries) revoked Executive Orders 13942 
and 3943 and required executive departments and agencies to promptly 
take steps to rescind any orders, rules, regulations, guidelines, or 
policies, or portions thereof, implementing or enforcing those 
Executive Orders (86 FR 31423). Accordingly, the Secretary of Commerce 
has rescinded the Identification of Prohibited Transactions with 
respect to TikTok and the Identification of Prohibited Transactions 
with respect to WeChat.

Authority

    International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701, et 
seq.; National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; Executive Order 
14034, 86 FR 31423.

    Dated: June 17, 2021.
Wynn W. Coggins,
Acting Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-13156 Filed 6-21-21; 8:45 am]
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