A Letter from Silicon Valley Leadership Group to Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
A Letter from Silicon Valley Leadership Group to Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, to request that any considered changes to U.S. export controls for the semiconductor industry.
The Honorable Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Esteemed Secretary Ross:
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group writes to request that any considered changes to U.S. export controls for the semiconductor industry and its affiliated technologies be executed through a proposed rule that provides for public comment before implementation. This process will ensure greater transparency and participation, and will help avoid policy that could unintentionally undermine the Innovation Economy.
The Leadership Group was founded in 1978 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard and represents more than 330 of Silicon Valley’s most respected employers. Leadership Group member companies collectively provide nearly one of every three private sector jobs in Silicon Valley, and account for over $4 trillion in economic activity. We work to strengthen America’s global technology advantage.
We are concerned that proposed export controls applied to the semiconductor industry without public comment may suffer from unintended consequences. Export controls aimed at enhancing national security and safeguarding intellectual property are important goals, and they should be selectively deployed, considering their impact to our economy. Overly-inclusive controls would impose unduly burdensome restrictions that are both costly and time- consuming for U.S. companies.
Further, if export controls on the semiconductor industry are increased, American companies would be denied entry into overseas markets. Foreign companies that compete against U.S. businesses would therefore have a distinct advantage that will cost America growth, jobs, and global market share.
An overly-broad application of semiconductor export controls also weakens America’s global dominance in innovation, in large part due to the collaboration of our research institutions and businesses with partners from around the world. Export controls on some of the most promising technologies would deprive American researchers of access to foreign partners and impede U.S. companies from developing and enhancing products and services. We risk falling behind global competitors who have no such limitations.
As the Department of Commerce considers how best to balance national security and economic stability, we encourage the Department to work with industry and business leaders to resolve these issues.
Please consider the Silicon Valley Leadership Group a resource in working towards our shared goals of security, innovation, and economic strength.
Sincerely,
Peter Leroe-Muñoz
General Counsel and SVP of Tech & Innovation Policy Silicon Valley Leadership Group
