US extends suspension of BIS 50% rule until January 2027
The US Commerce Department has extended the suspension of export restrictions targeting affiliates of blacklisted entities until January 10, 2027, delaying implementation of rules that would significantly expand existing end-user controls.
WASHINGTON, November 9, 2026 — The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has extended the suspension of its Affiliates Rule for an additional two months, postponing the implementation of expanded export controls covering companies owned by entities subject to certain US trade restrictions.
The final rule, published in the Federal Register on November 9, extends the suspension from its previously scheduled expiration date of November 9, 2026, through January 10, 2027. The extension takes effect immediately.
The original Affiliates Rule, published on September 30, 2025, sought to expand existing end-user restrictions to companies owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by one or more entities appearing on certain US restricted-party lists. The measure would extend applicable export licensing requirements and restrictions to qualifying subsidiaries and affiliates, even where those companies were not individually named on the relevant lists.
The rule was subsequently suspended in November 2025 for one year, temporarily preventing the expanded ownership-based restrictions from taking effect. The latest announcement extends that suspension for a further 62 days without introducing additional substantive changes to the underlying requirements.
The decision means exporters, reexporters and other businesses handling items subject to US export controls will not yet be required to apply the expanded ownership-based restrictions introduced by the Affiliates Rule. Existing export control requirements, including restrictions applicable to individually listed entities, remain in force.
BIS issued the extension under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, which authorizes the Commerce Department to regulate exports, reexports and in-country transfers of items subject to US jurisdiction.
The agency confirmed that the extension was issued without prior notice and public comment. It also stated that comments previously submitted concerning the Affiliates Rule would be considered in future rulemaking.
Unless further amended or suspended, the expanded controls are now scheduled to take effect on January 10, 2027.
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