The State Department has drafted a proposed rule that could create a new exemption in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for “defense trade and cooperation” with Australia and the U.K. The agency sent the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs April 9.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is encouraging industry and foreign countries to do more to ensure American high-tech products don't end up in Russian weapon systems, a Commerce Department official said April 10.
The U.K. on April 10 updated its guidance on export controls covering military goods, software and technology by adding language to the section concerning disclosures and violations. The section stresses the importance of voluntary disclosures, and if an "irregularity" is found during a compliance audit carried out by the government, the "compliance inspector will have informed" the country's revenue and customs agency, "and you are strongly advised to do the same.
The U.S. last week transferred thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces that were confiscated from unflagged vessels en route to Yemen from Iran as part of a civil forfeiture action, DOJ announced on April 9. The shipment included "over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, and RPG-7s, and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition."
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on April 10 issued a new white paper with a list of “commendations” and recommendations it gave to universities and research centers during visits over the last few years to check their compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. DDTC said universities and researchers can use the eight-page paper to learn about best practices and government expectations for ITAR compliance. The agency said the visits took place between 2020 and early 2024.
The Bureau of Industry and Security remains months away from resolving a temporary pause in new firearm export licenses that was supposed to expire in January, the National Shooting Sports Foundation said this week.
The Bureau of Industry and Security added 11 parties to its Entity List this week for procuring items to support Iranian drone programs, China’s military modernization efforts or Russia’s military. The additions, outlined in a final rule released April 10 and effective April 11, include technology companies, logistics firms and one person based in either China, Russia or the United Arab Emirates.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sanctioned seven people and 86 entities, according to an unofficial translation of a notice released April 4. The notice said the parties were being sanctioned to "support proposals made by the Security Service of Ukraine," and added that the country's foreign affairs ministry should "inform the competent authorities of the European Union, the United States of America and other countries about the application of sanctions and raise the issue of introducing similar restrictive measures before them."
The U.S., Australia and the U.K. are making “progress” on creating license-free defense trade among the three countries under the AUKUS partnership, they said in a joint statement this week. They also said they are considering involving Japan in the effort.
Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, on April 9 introduced a bill that would increase resources for detecting, investigating and preventing violations of U.S. export controls.