Thank you, John, for that introduction and thank you to the Center for Strategic and International Studies for hosting this forum. I also want to thank the private sector leaders that are here today. You play a vital role in countering democratic backsliding and ensuring that democracies deliver for their people. As President Biden has said, “democracy does not happen by accident…democracy needs...

Last week, U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves traveled to Brussels, Belgium and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen . They discussed the close cooperation between the European Union and the United States on export controls to counter Russia’s war on Ukraine, the continued need for enforcement coordination, as well as European energy security. Deputy Secretary Graves’...

Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo spoke with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. During the call, the two discussed areas of shared interest including collaboration within the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and export controls. The Secretary underscored progress on semiconductor cooperation through the TTC and raised the potential to deepen...

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves joined U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Mark Gitenstein in a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Brussels on February 28. Deputy Secretary Graves expressed gratitude for the close cooperation with the European Union on sanctions and export controls given Russia’s continued, unprovoked war in Ukraine. Deputy...

Thank you, Joaquin, and thank you to CEPS for inviting me to be a part of this terrific program. We’re gathered here days after marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s land grab was a despicable act meant to divide the West, but instead was met with a wall of resistance: from the brave people in Ukraine, as well as from America and our allies in...

Today, Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves met with the European Commission’s Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union Gerassimos Thomas. The two leaders discussed U.S.-EU cooperation on the Ukraine crisis, including operationalizing enforcement of our mutual Russian sanctions and export controls. During the meeting Graves expressed his deep appreciation for the EU’s solidarity in...

Yesterday, Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves met with the European Commission’s Director-General for Trade Sabine Weyand. The two leaders discussed U.S.-EU cooperation on the Ukraine crisis, including continued development and implementation of export control actions against Russa and Belarus. During the meeting Graves thanked the EU for the substantial trade restrictions imposed on Russia and...

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today released the following statement after the White House announced additional actions in coordination with the G7 to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine: “The United States continues to rally the world to support Ukrainians as they defend their freedom. Today, one year after Russia began its brutal invasion of Ukraine, President Biden is...

Joint Venture in More Than 10 Cities Will Enforce U.S. Laws Protecting U.S. Advanced Technologies from Illegal Acquisition and Use by Nation-State Adversaries Today, the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce are launching the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Under the leadership of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of...

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce is continuing to take action against Russia and those who enable Russia’s war in Ukraine. We added trade restrictions to seven Iranian entities involved in Iran’s drone program for supporting Russia’s war efforts and trying to use U.S. items to do it. They join a list of more than 370 entities that the department has taken action against since Feb. 24, 2022...