Effective September 29, 2025, many thousands of additional non-U.S. entities around the world are now prohibited from receiving U.S. goods, software, and technology under an “affiliates” interim final rule (the IFR) published by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  

The U.S. Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), continues to actively pursue investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. These investigations aim to determine whether specific imports threaten to impair U.S. national security. In recent months, BIS has significantly broadened the scope of its inquiries, reflecting heightened concerns over supply chain resilience, critical infrastructure, and technological competitiveness. This alert provides an overview of the currently active investigations and offers practical guidance for stakeholders, including how to participate in the public comment process.

Semiconductors are critical components that form the foundation of virtually all modern technologies and industries, including computers, smartphones, consumer electronics, automobiles, and medical devices. Their global importance continues to grow. This blog provides an overview of recent legal developments in the semiconductor markets of Japan and the United States.