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Nominee discusses export controls as tool for maintaining U.S. technological leadership
Summary
During questioning, Mr. Kessler said export controls are a vital tool to protect U.S. technology and the defense industrial base, and that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) must be nimble to keep pace with sophisticated adversaries.
Senator Tim Scott asked Mr. Kessler how export controls can be used to advance U.S. technological leadership, particularly in relation to China.
Mr. Kessler, a witness testifying before the committee, said export controls are a "critical tool in America's policy toolkit for ensuring continued technological leadership and technological supremacy." He described export controls as part of the Bureau of Industry and Security's remit to prevent proliferation of weapons, to stop terrorists from obtaining dual‑use items and to protect the defense industrial base.
"And it's part of the mandate, of course, of BIS, to pursue that goal," Kessler said. "I think part of the challenge for BIS is to be as nimble as our adversaries to keep pace with them. Our adversaries are sophisticated and they work hard every day to get around export controls and other rules that America has to prevent them from getting sensitive technologies and we need to keep up."
The exchange focused on the role of export controls as a policy tool; the transcript does not record any committee action or vote arising from the exchange.
Provenance: Transcript excerpts capturing the question and Mr. Kessler's answer appear between 176.08s and 275.66s in the provided transcript.
