[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 197 (Thursday, October 13, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61970-61971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

15 CFR Parts 734, 736, 740, 742, 744, 762, 772, and 774

[Docket No. 220930-0204]
RIN 0694-AI94


Procedures for Access to the Public Briefing on Additional Export 
Controls on Certain Advanced Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing 
Items

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Procedures for accessing a public briefing on regulatory 
actions.

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SUMMARY: On October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 
placed on public display an interim final rule: ``Implementation of 
Additional Export Controls: Certain Advanced Computing and 
Semiconductor Manufacturing Items; Supercomputer and Semiconductor End 
Use; Entity List Modification.'' On October 13, 2022, Under Secretary 
for Industry and Security Alan F. Estevez and Assistant Secretary for 
Export Administration Thea D. Rozman Kendler will conduct a public 
briefing on the rule and associated actions. This announcement provides 
details on the procedures for attending the public briefing.

DATES: 
    Public briefing: The public briefing call will be held on October 
13, 2022. The public briefing call will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time (EDT) local time and conclude at 10 a.m. EDT. The 
telephone number for attending this event will be posted on the BIS 
website at https://bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/newsroom/2082 no 
later than October 7 at 5 p.m.
    Deadline for submitting questions for public briefing: Questions 
for BIS for the public briefing may be submitted until 3 p.m. EDT on 
October 11, 2022.

ADDRESSES: 
    Submitting questions: Questions for BIS for the public briefing may 
be submitted in writing to [email protected]. Please tag the 
questions submitted by adding ``Public Briefing on China Actions'' in 
the subject line.
    Recording: Within 7 business days after the public briefing on the 
rule and associated actions is completed, BIS will add a link to a 
recording, including captioning, of the public briefing to make the 
recording physically accessible to people with disabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Nies-Vogel, Director, Office of 
Exporter Services, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of 
Commerce, Phone: (202) 482-3811, Email: [email protected]. For emails, 
include ``Public Briefing on China Actions'' in the subject line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 
placed on public display an interim final rule: ``Implementation of 
Additional Export Controls: Certain Advanced Computing and 
Semiconductor Manufacturing Items; Supercomputer and Semiconductor End 
Use; Entity List Modification'' (October 7 rule). That rule amends the 
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement controls on 
advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs), computer commodities that 
contain such ICs, and certain semiconductor manufacturing items. 
Additionally, the rule expands controls on transactions involving items 
for supercomputer and semiconductor manufacturing end uses, for 
example, it expands the scope of foreign-produced items subject to 
license requirements for twenty-eight existing entities on the Entity 
List that are located in the Peoples' Republic of China (PRC, China). 
The rule also informs the public that specific activities of ``U.S. 
persons'' that `support' the ``development'' or ``production'' of 
certain ICs in the PRC require a license.
    Advanced computing commodities and supercomputers, in which ICs are 
an essential component, can be used for purposes detrimental to U.S. 
national security and foreign policy interests, including for weapons 
of mass destruction, military modernization, and human rights abuses. 
Certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment is needed to develop, 
produce, or use ICs. With the October 7 rule, BIS addresses these 
concerns by:
    (1) Adding certain advanced and less advanced computing chips and 
computer commodities that contain such chips to the Commerce Control 
List (CCL);
    (2) Adding new license requirements for items destined for 
supercomputer and semiconductor end use in China;
    (3) Expanding the scope of foreign-produced advanced computing 
items and foreign-produced items for supercomputer end uses subject to 
the EAR;

[[Page 61971]]

    (4) Expanding the scope of foreign-produced items subject to 
license requirements for twenty-eight existing entities on the Entity 
List that are located in China;
    (5) Adding certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment to the 
CCL;
    (6) Adding new license requirements for items destined to a 
semiconductor fabrication ``facility'' in China that fabricates ICs 
meeting specified criteria;
    (7) Adding new license requirements for items used in the 
``development'' or ``production'' of semiconductor manufacturing 
equipment and related items in China; and
    (8) Informing the public that specific activities of ``U.S. 
persons'' that `support' the ``development'' or ``production'' of 
certain ICs in the PRC require a license.
    Lastly, to minimize the short term impact on the semiconductor 
supply chain from this rule, BIS is establishing a Temporary General 
License to permit specific, limited manufacturing activities in China 
related to items destined for use outside China and is identifying a 
model certificate that may be used in compliance programs to assist, 
along with other measures, in conducting due diligence.

Scope of the Briefing and Process for Submitting Questions

    The briefing conducted by Under Secretary Estevez and Assistant 
Secretary Kendler will address important aspects of the October 7 
interim final rule and associated actions. The October 7 interim final 
rule is open for a sixty-day public comment until the date specified in 
the DATES section of the interim final rule.
    Note that no verbal public comments will be accepted during the 
public briefing, which will be held virtually via audio only. Questions 
for BIS may be submitted in writing to [email protected] 
until 3 p.m. EDT on October 11, 2022. Please tag the questions 
submitted by adding ``Public Briefing on China Actions'' in the subject 
line. Such questions will be addressed as time and subject matter 
permit.

Process for Submitting Comments on the Interim Final Rule

    Written comments on the rule must be received by BIS no later than 
the date specified in the DATES section of the October 7 interim final 
rule: Implementation of Additional Export Controls: Certain Advanced 
Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing Items; Supercomputer and 
Semiconductor End Use; Entity List Modification. See the ADDRESSES 
section of the interim final rule for instructions on submitting 
written comments.

Matthew S. Borman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-22037 Filed 10-7-22; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P