US export controls cost billions, survey finds, with little strategic gain

The Trump administration’s export-control licensing system is costing the United States billions of dollars in lost sales and eroding the global market share of American companies, according to a new business survey. The rules, the survey argues, are delivering little strategic benefit in return. The US-China Business Council (USCBC) conducted a flash survey of companies in July. It found that months-long delays in licensing approvals are hurting US firms. “Months-long licensing delays are costing the United States billions of dollars in exports and eroding American market share globally,” the council said in its report. The survey points to a growing gap between the policy’s stated goals and its real-world impact. While the controls aim to restrict sensitive technology transfers, the business group says the result is that US companies lose orders to foreign competitors who face no such limits. The findings add to a broader debate over how Washington balances national security with economic competitiveness. For now, the data suggests a heavy price for American businesses, with no clear evidence that the controls are achieving their intended strategic objectives.