Department of Commerce News

The Daily Signal covers Department of Commerce news with reporting and analysis on international trade, census controversies, economic statistics, patent policy, and federal regulations affecting American businesses and economic competitiveness.
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    • Exclusive

    Trump Admin Changes Plan to Tap Former Anthropic Researcher to Direct Federal AI Safety Org

    FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Commerce Department tapped a new director for the government’s safety-centered artificial intelligence organization, but later decided to go in another direction, sources familiar with the matter tell The Daily Signal.  Collin Burns, a former researcher at Anthropic and OpenAI, was tapped to lead the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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    • Opinion

    Commerce’s 50% Rule Is a National Security Victory

    In late September, the Trump administration’s Commerce Department delivered a major victory for American national security. In one fell swoop, the department closed thousands of loopholes in the U.S. export control regime, which restricts access to U.S. technology by China and other foreign adversaries. This action, commonly called the “50% rule,” will enable U.S. national…
    Bryan Burack
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    • News

    EXCLUSIVE: Trump to Sign Order Elevating Office of Space Commerce

    FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order elevating the Office of Space Commerce, The Daily Signal has learned. The order will move the office out of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency focused on the condition of the oceans, atmosphere, weather, and climate. The Office of…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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    • News

    EXCLUSIVE: Commerce Department to ‘Immediately’ Make Census ‘Reflect the Number of Legal Residents’ in US

    FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—After President Donald Trump called for a new census excluding illegal immigrants, the Department of Commerce told the Daily Signal it will “immediately” change course to “reflect the number of legal residents in the United States.”  Trump ordered the Department of Commerce to start work on a new census in which…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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    • News

    Former Commerce Secretary Among 7 Sanctioned by China Over Hong Kong

    China sanctioned former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and six other U.S. individuals or entities in retaliation for human rights penalties levied against the Chinese government Friday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the sanctions were a response to the recent Hong Kong Business Advisory issued by the State Department earlier this month, which warned U.S. companies against engaging in business…
    Thomas Catenacci
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    • Opinion

    Why the Commerce Secretary Shouldn’t Testify to Lawmakers About the Census

    Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is scheduled to testify Thursday before the House Oversight and Reform Committee in a hearing on the Trump administration’s reinstating a standard citizenship question on the U.S. census.  But with civil litigation over that very issue now before the Supreme Court, the House committee should cancel the hearing in recognition of…
    Hans von Spakovsky
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    • News

    Meet Wilbur Ross, Trump’s Pick for Commerce Secretary

    President-elect Donald Trump tapped Wilbur Ross, an investor and longtime Trump associate, to serve as secretary of the Department of Commerce, the transition team announced Wednesday. “Wilbur Ross is a champion of American manufacturing and knows how to help companies succeed. Most importantly, he is one of the greatest negotiators I have ever met, and…
    Melissa Quinn
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    • News

    E-Commerce Startup Co-Founder Talks Risk and Reward

    Before 27-year-old Justin Chen was ever appointed CFO of an emerging startup, he was just a kid selling sneakers for fun. “There’s Nikes, and Jordans, and this whole community,” Chen explains. “I’m a huge collector. In high school, I would basically pay for all my purchases by reselling my sneakers. Just buying and selling them…
    Madaline Donnelly
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