Republican Senator Tom Cotton is holding up a vote to confirm Alan Estevez as the U.S. Commerce Department's undersecretary for industry and security until he gets answers to difficult questions about technology exports to China.
In a letter dated Oct. 14 and seen by Reuters, Cotton asks Estevez to commit to strengthening U.S. restrictions on exporting semiconductor software and technology to China and to accelerating the roll-out of new rules to tighten export controls for advanced technologies.
The job at the Commerce Department oversees exports to all countries but decisions over cutting-edge technology exports to China have given the position tremendous power over Chinese companies dependent on U.S. technology in recent years.Many industry watchers saw the choice of Estevez, a former Defense Department official with a limited track record on China, as a safe bet.
Since the Republican has not had the chance to question the nominee, he is pausing the confirmation process until he receives answers to the questions posed in the letter, a Cotton staffer said. His opposition stems from the former Pentagon official's response to questions regarding returning oversight of U.S. firearms exports to the State Department.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Purpose At Work: How Australia's Cotton:On Drives Growth Through A Purposeful Culture And StorytellingJohnson’s been with the company 17 years, and supervised the store footprint’s expansion from 50 Australian Cotton: On stores in 2004, to now about 1,500 stores globally, and a suite of eight brands, operating in 22 countries, supported by a global workforce of more than 17,000 people.
Read more »
Biden pushes 24/7 port operation ahead of expected Christmas supply crunchPresident Joe Biden looks to stave off the potentially politically explosive headaches Americans may face as delays threaten holiday gift-giving.
Read more »
'I am offended': DeSantis vows to sue Biden over vaccine mandatesDeSantis is taking his legal fight against vaccine mandates to the Biden administration: “I am offended that a police officer could potentially lose their job”
Read more »
WSJ News Exclusive | Jana Partners Takes Stake in Macy’s, Urges E-Commerce SpinoffThe activist investors said that a stand-alone e-commerce business would be worth a multiple of Macy’s current market value, which stood at about $7 billion Thursday after a recent rally.
Read more »
EXCLUSIVE China readies plan to elevate status of antitrust unit - sourcesChina is considering boosting the status of its antitrust bureau within the market regulatory agency as it steps up a campaign against anti-competitive behaviour, two people familiar with the matter said.
Read more »
Former Obama ethics official slams Biden White House for avoiding questions on Hunter Biden's artworkFormer Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub shared some constructive criticism on Wednesday for President Biden and his administration.
Read more »