A Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) survey of 31 major American technology companies revealed significant export license delays. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) processing times have caused hundreds of millions in lost or delayed sales. CSIS detailed these findings on April 23, 2026. Wait times for license approvals have increased substantially compared to previous years.
The Semiconductor Industry Association and other members describe the process as increasingly opaque and unresponsive. Uncertainty damages customer relationships and risks losing market share to overseas competitors. Foreign rivals do not face the same licensing hurdles as American firms.
Some companies now hire legal counsel to track applications exceeding the 90-day statutory benchmark. These delays highlight growing friction between national security controls and industry operations.