FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACI Successfully Concludes 7th Annual China Trade Controls Conference

Arlington, VA — November 6-7, 2025. The American Conference Institute (ACI) successfully concluded the 7th Annual China Trade Controls Conference, held November 6–7 in Arlington, VA. The event convened senior government officials, in-house leaders, compliance executives, and leading practitioners to examine developments shaping the U.S. – China trade, export controls, and national-security risk.

Across two days of sessions, speakers emphasized the growing complexity of U.S. export-control obligations, particularly as the United States and China navigate an evolving regulatory landscape and shifting enforcement posture.

“Our goal each year is to provide a forum where senior trade compliance and legal leaders can connect with their peers, benchmark their knowledge and strategies, and discuss solutions for the challenges facing multinationals with a trade nexus to China.,” said Yale Deskins, conference producer with ACI. “This year’s discussions reflected the real-world complexity that practitioners are facing, and we were pleased to see such a strong exchange of insights across the government, industry, and legal communities.”

BIS 50 Percent Affiliates Rule Remains a Central Focus Despite Pause

A core theme of the conference was the BIS 50 Percent Affiliates Rule, which although paused as of November 10 continues to represent one of the most consequential regulatory developments for multinationals.

Experts stressed that the pause should be treated as a temporary window to prepare, not a signal that the rule will be withdrawn. The Affiliates Rule is set to snap back automatically on November 10, 2026, unless BIS takes further action.

The significance of the rule was reinforced by data shared by event sponsor WireScreen, the China Corporate Intelligence Platform. According to WireScreen’s analysis performed in October 2025, more than 20,000 Chinese entities fall within the scope of the rule when applying the 50 percent ownership test across direct, indirect, and aggregated chains.

This finding underscores the growing burden on compliance teams to evaluate multilayered ownership structures, indirect stakes, and aggregated holdings—particularly in sectors where supply chains are deeply intertwined with China. High-technology sectors, including semiconductors, aerospace, defense, advanced medical platforms, and automotive systems, were identified as areas of heightened exposure due to dense joint-venture and investment networks.

“Although the affiliate rule is on pause, the U.S.-China relationship continues to be defined by strategic competition,” said John Costello, Director of Strategic Affairs at WireScreen and one of the conference panelists. “China’s corporate landscape is fluid, opaque, and engineered to adapt around proposed rules and emerging oversight—creating challenges for both corporate compliance and U.S. policy. WireScreen stands ready to support U.S. agencies and global enterprises in keeping pace with this evolving landscape.”

Key Themes and Takeaways

Panelists and participants emphasized:

• The BIS rule is paused, not repealed. The pause provides a defined planning horizon, not a reduction in underlying risk.
• Due-diligence burdens are rising sharply. Export-control programs must now incorporate ownership-chain analysis traditionally associated with OFAC’s 50 percent rule.
• Preparation must begin now. Mapping ownership, updating screening logic, and coordinating with procurement, finance, and IT require lead time—and cannot wait until a snap-back occurs.
• Sector exposure is uneven but acute. Semiconductors, aerospace, dual-use technologies, medical devices, and automotive sectors are among those most affected.

The conference once again served as a leading forum for timely analysis, practitioner insight, and peer-to-peer learning among trade-control professionals navigating the realities of U.S.- China technological and economic competition.

About the American Conference Institute (ACI)

The American Conference Institute is a leading provider of conferences, training, and executive-education programs for legal, compliance, and business professionals worldwide. Through its forums, ACI equips practitioners with the latest insights on regulatory change, enforcement trends, and best practices across complex areas of law and policy.

Media Contacts:

American Conference Institute
[email protected] | www.americanconference.com

WireScreen
[email protected] | www.wirescreen.ai