European Defence Agency Working with US On Export Controls
Under Secretary Hirschhorn then briefed the National Armaments Directors on the U.S. export control reform (ECR) initiative. The essential goals of the ECR are ...
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Proposed Easing of Satellite Export Controls Could Benefit U.S. Satellite Industry

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP - 7 May 2012

Since 1999, strict controls on the export of U.S. satellites and satellite components have drastically eroded U.S. manufacturers’ market share in the global satellite industry. On April 18, 2012, the U.S. Departments of State and Defense released the “1248 Report” containing findings related to reducing some of those controls. The 1248 Report assesses the national security risks of removing certain satellites and related components from the tightly controlled United States Munitions List (USML) and transferring them to the generally less restrictive Commerce Control List (CCL). The report concludes that most communications satellites, lower-performing remote sensing satellites, and related components could be transferred from the USML to the CCL without harming U.S. national security. The transfer of these items to the CCL could greatly benefit the U.S. satellite industry by significantly easing the export controls placed on its products.

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The U.S. Export Control System and the President’s Reform Initiative

By Ian Ferguson

The 112th Congress may consider reforms of the U.S. export control system. The balance between national security and export competitiveness has made the subject of export controls controversial for decades. Through the Export Administration Act (EAA), the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and other authorities, the United States restricts the export of defense items or munitions; so-called “dual-use” goods and technology—items with both civilian and military applications; certain nuclear materials and technology; and items that would assist in the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons or the missile technology used to deliver them. U.S. export controls are also used to restrict exports to certain countries on which the United States imposes economic sanctions. At present, the EAA has expired and dual-use controls are maintained under IEEPA authorities.

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Proposed Easing of Satellite Export Controls Could Benefit U.S. Satellite Industry

May 7, 2012 By Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Since 1999, strict controls on the export of U.S. satellites and satellite components have drastically eroded U.S. manufacturers’ market share in the global satellite industry. On April 18, 2012, the U.S. Departments of State and Defense released the “1248 Report” containing findings related to reducing some of those controls. The 1248 Report assesses the national security risks of removing certain satellites and related components from the tightly controlled United States Munitions List (USML) and transferring them to the generally less restrictive Commerce Control List (CCL). The report concludes that most communications satellites, lower-performing remote sensing satellites, and related components could be transferred from the USML to the CCL without harming U.S. national security. The transfer of these items to the CCL could greatly benefit the U.S. satellite industry by significantly easing the export controls placed on its products.

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Event to Discuss Current State of ITAR and Propose Reforms to the Export Controls Regime

April 26, 2012 08:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time RESTON, Va.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Bar Association Section of Science & Technology Law (SciTech) will co-sponsor a “Conversation on Export Controls” on Wednesday, May 9. This luncheon event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room 2325 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. 20003.
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Satellite Export Control Reform

The Department of Defense announced the release of a major report on space export control policy. Congress requested this report from the Secretaries of Defense and State in Section 1248 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84). The report summarizes a DoD and State Department risk assessment of U.S. space export control policy, which concludes that most communication and lower performing remote sensing satellites and related components can be moved from the United States Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL) without harm to national security. The report also recommends that Congress return to the president authority to determine the export control jurisdictional status of satellites and related items. It further recommends that DoD be provided authority to apply appropriate monitoring and other export control measures to individual cases, in order to most effectively reduce risks to national security.

Link to the Report

COLORADO SPRINGS — The Obama administration is proposing to relax export controls for U.S. satellite technologies to allow domestic companies to be more competitive in the global marketplace while at the same time allowing for stricter restrictions against countries including China, Iran, North Korea and Syria.

By Amy Butler - Tuesday, April 18, 2012 - Aviation Week
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The sale of weapons and other military equipment to our allies and friendly governments has long been an important element of American foreign and national security policy. Arms sales can enhance regional stability, aid in the fight against terrorism, support our friends and help provide jobs for American workers.

By Sen. Richard G. Lugar - Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - Washington Times
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The IPC Apex Expo show floor in late February was rife with rumors that the US State Department might remove printed circuit boards from the ITAR Control List. Several representatives from board shops or distributors had heard the same story. And they hid no concern that such a move, if true, would be the death knell of the US PCB industry. Given how much domestic fabricators rely on military work to keep their shops open, they had every right to be worried.

Written by Mike Buetow, Friday, 30 March 2012
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Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) is claiming International Traffic in Arms Regulations have directly affected U.S. space competitiveness, Defense Systems.com reported. Ruppersberger spoke at the Satellite 2012 conference March 12 in Washington. U.S. space technologies are regulated under ITAR regulations. Two decades ago, the U.S. dominated the space industry with a 70 percent market share. The country’s market share has dropped to 27 percent since the bill was introduced, according to Defense Systems.

Thu, 2012-03-15- Washington Times
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A senior Pentagon official told Congress last week that the U.S. government is concerned about the leakage of embargoed U.S. space technology to China. Gregory L. Schulte, deputy assistant defense secretary for space policy, was asked during a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing whether illicit exports of U.S. satellite technology by the French company Thales would boost China’s ambitious space weapons program.

Thu, 2012-03-13 - Executive Gov
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