Coalition Outlines Export Control Reform Recommendations

(World Trade Interactive)

The Coalition for Security and Competitiveness, a group formed in March 2007 with the goal of modernizing a U.S. export control system that it says has not been significantly revised in more than 20 years, forwarded to President Obama January 11 a list of recommendations for near- and medium-term reforms that could be taken within existing legislative authorizations. These recommendations are in addition to the principles the coalition submitted last fall. Together, the coalition said, these principles and recommendations “would create a 21st century export control regime that protects critical technologies, safeguards our national security, spurs innovation, and promotes economic growth.” Coalition members intend these submissions to be considered as part of the Obama administration’s ongoing review of export control policy.

The coalition proposes structuring export control reform around five themes: drawing clear lines of agency responsibility for dual-use items and munitions, revising and reducing export control lists to reflect current technologies and maximize the competitive edge of U.S. companies, completing the transition to an end user-based system by developing more efficient procedures for trusted end users and exporters, enhancing cooperation with allies, and enhancing cooperation with the business community to improve the sharing of intelligence and enforcement information. Read more here.