A Voluntary Self-Disclosure (VSD) is conducted when an organization recognizes that violations or suspected violations of export regulations of the United States have occurred.  The three major sets of U.S. Regulations are the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).   International Traffic in

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Non SDN Sanction List is a reference tool that is published by the United States Department of Treasury to identify persons subject to specific types of sanctions.  This list includes non-blocking prohibitions of the export specific goods and services and prohibitions based on statutory exceptions for imports.  The

Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) security plans are a requirement for work sites where goods are examined, possessed, or transferred.  This is a requirement for all companies registered in the CGP as described in section 10 of the Controlled Goods Regulations.   Controlled goods are primarily items, components and technical data that have been designated as

A 300-million-dollar penalty was imposed on Seagate Technology, LCC, by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).  These administrative penalties were leveled at the business’s operations in Fremont, California and Singapore and include a five-year suspended Denial Order, which if activated, would terminate the organization’s ability to conduct export business under the Export Administration Regulations

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) expands treaty exemptions for the transfer of defense articles, services, and technical data enumerated on the Munitions List.  This rule, which will become effective on May 12, 2023, is in effect for transfers between the United States and Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.   Effect of Rulemaking This

A new Department of Defense (DoD) requirement for contractors has been proposed.  This would require contractors to provide applicable export authorizations when receiving certain types of government contracts.  This proposed amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) would empower the Defense Contract Management Agency (DMCA) to request export authorizations when contracts require Government

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) addressed human rights abuses with additions to the Entity List of individuals and organizations that are enabling or engaging in human rights violations.  The eleven entities added, in March of 2023, are based in China, Burma, Russia, and Nicaragua.  These actions demonstrate the ongoing efforts by the Department

Microsoft export violations have resulted in multi-million-dollar penalties for the software provider.  The company has made voluntary disclosures to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).  Most of these reported violations occurred between 2012 and 2019.  These violations

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is Assessing the Civil Space Industrial Base in the United States in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to better understand this important supply chain network.  This study will use surveys to collect data from U.S. organizations

The Department of Commerce has initiated the Disruptive Technology Strike Force which will partner the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) with the Department of Justice (DoJ) in the enforcement of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  Export Administration Regulations (EAR) control the export of commodities determined to be dual-use.  Dual-use items refer to commodities and

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