The Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC) has released Export Compliance Program Guidelines to provide businesses with an overview of best practices for complying with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  These guidelines encourage organizations to adopt robust policies and procedures to ensure that compliance with export controls for items enumerated in the United

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) Open General License (OGL) pilot program has been instituted to ease the conditions under which exports, reexports, and retransfers of unclassified defense articles may be performed between pre-approved parties.  This program was started in August 1, 2022 and will continue through July 31, 2023, at which time the

Denied Parties Screening is an essential practice for ensuring regulatory compliance to U.S. law.  Screening is performed to restrict or prohibit U.S. individuals and organizations from shipping products or providing services to parties listed on denial, debarment, and blocked persons lists. Screening applies to all businesses regardless of product or service sector.  An organization is

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has restructured ITAR in an effort to streamline the regulations and clarify definitions.  While no substantive changes were made to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), revisions in definitions may effect those under the regulation’s purview. Changes to Part 120 – Purpose and Definitions Part 120 of

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on September 14, 2020 that forced labor goods from China are now banned.  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued Withhold Release Orders on products produced in China’s Xinjiang province.  In a statement Acting CBP Commissioner Mark A. Morgan stated that the forced labor goods banned

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) places controls on technologies pursuant to Section 1758, whose export may threaten U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.  As of May 23, 2022 the BIS announced that it would no longer classify those controlled technologies as emerging or foundational.  This action is providing the agency with flexibility

Exercising export regulations due diligence involves complying to complex sets of requirements set forth by multiple U.S. government agencies.  These agencies include the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC), and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The International Traffic in Arms

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) considers enforcement policies changes an instrument for combatting national security threats.  This was highlighted in remarks released from Matthew Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement.  In recent presentations he outlined the changing focus of the United States export control system and the need for bolstering enforcement actions of

The Importance of Understanding Export Administration Regulations (EAR)  Understanding Export Administration Regulations is especially important for businesses today because of the prevalence and ease of conducting international trade in today’s world.  Many businesses learn too late the consequences of remaining ignorant of federal export control laws.  Unfortunately, ignorance is not a defense when a party

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is placing controls on marine toxins in a unilateral effort to prevent biological threats to humans and the environment by way of accidental or deliberate release.  This control specifically addresses the export, reexport, or transfer of the biotoxins brevetoxin, gonyautoxin, nodularin, and palytoxin.  These toxins are generally found

ITAR and EAR- U.S. Export Regulations The ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and the EAR (Export Administration Regulations) are export control regulations run by different departments of the U.S. Government.  Both are in place to ensure that restricted technologies do not get into the hands of terrorists and countries who are not operating in

Essential Features of an ITAR Compliance Program International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) compliance is a requirement for companies entering markets with defense related applications.  To establish an effective ITAR compliance program all segments of a business must be involved.  Important features of an ITAR program include the following: Registration with the Directorate of Defense

Continuing Changes in Export Compliance Maintaining export compliance programs presents challenges to organizations of all sizes.  Given the complexity of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), Antiboycott Regulations, and various sanctions, this is not surprising.  Additionally, international political events are forcing agencies to continually make changes to these regulations to