Effective August 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) has issued two new changes to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) reinforcing national defense priorities that limit DoD contracts performed in China, and the DoD’s ability to acquire tantalum metals from China and other unfriendly countries such as a Iran, North Korea, and Russia. These rules continue the trend of further isolating targeted countries in U.S. supply chains that are deemed a potential national security threat.
1. Employment Transparency Regarding Individuals Who Perform Work in China
First is DFARS Case 2022-D010 (87 Fed. Reg. 52339), an interim rule