US Must Use Export, Investment Restrictions to Maintain Biotech Lead, Task Force Says

U.S. leaders “must act” to ensure America remains competitive in the emerging biotechnology sector, including through trade restrictions and other controls, the Center for New American Security’s new Biotech Task Force said in a “statement of purpose” this week. In an emailed news release, the task force said the U.S. must constrain “harmful tech development by certain actors with updated mitigation strategies,” including ones that use “export controls and investment restrictions.” The strategies should also include “updating regulations, forging collaboration with trusted international partners, and reinforcing international law and norms.”

The group said the U.S. is the “global leader” in biotechnology, but that leadership is being “increasingly challenged” by countries looking to use the technology to strengthen their militaries. “The implications for the United States of falling behind in biotech are profound,” the task force said.

CNAS launched the task force last year to address issues and provide government recommendations on national security-related challenges facing the biotechnology industry (see 2211020009). The Commerce Department is considering new export controls on biotechnology-related items (see 2210270047).