Welcome back to this three-part series of Rittener Reflections where we seek to understand the complex, critical and ever-changing world of export controls, the past, present and the way forward. In Part 1, which I called The Long Strange Trip, we explored the historical arc of export controls. Today, we turn to the present—and it’s complicated. From China’s tech ambitions to Russia’s impact on multilateral regimes, from AI’s promise and peril to the post-COVID compliance landscape, exporters face a maze of challenges. I am again joined by Bruce Jackson, whose depth of experience helps us make sense of this shifting terrain and brings deep insight into how companies are adapting, what regulators are prioritizing, and where the real risks lie. This is the reality check.