RESTRICT Act

This bill, titled the RESTRICT Act, amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to establish new controls on advanced integrated circuits. Its primary goal is to prevent the sale of these critical components to nations deemed "countries of concern" while allowing secure transfers to approved U.S. entities operating abroad. The legislation defines an "advanced integrated circuit" as specific types of chips or products containing them, particularly those designed for data centers, and grants the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security authority to update this definition over time. It mandates a license for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of these circuits to any "covered country" and explicitly requires the denial of licenses for transfers to entities primarily located or headquartered in a "country of concern," which includes specific regions like Macau and Hong Kong. To facilitate legitimate business, the bill creates an exemption from the license requirement for "approved United States persons." These persons must meet stringent criteria, including limits on foreign ownership from countries of concern, robust physical and cybersecurity measures, and annual audits, to ensure the chips remain under U.S. control and are not diverted. This section of the Act is set to terminate five years after its enactment, indicating a temporary but impactful measure to safeguard advanced technology.