AIA Supports Latest White House Export Control Initiatives

AIA strongly supports the initiatives on export control modernization the White House released today, and believe they constitute an important step in reshaping the export control system to better serve our national security.

“We are very pleased by the progress the administration is making in reviewing the U.S. Munitions List,” said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. “The restructured list shows great promise in assigning the appropriate level of protection to technology exports across all levels of risk.”  

In particular, the completed review of Category VII of the USML – Tanks and Military Vehicles – shows that about 74 percent of the 12,000 items licensed last year could have been safely processed under the less restrictive Commerce Control List. This indicates substantial potential savings in time and compliance costs to U.S. exporters in the future, with enormous benefits for our military and closest allies.

“The clarification and eventual consolidation of the Munitions and Commerce Control lists will have a dramatic impact on small- and medium-sized companies,” Blakey said. “These companies rarely have the resources to ensure compliance with the current export control regime. Simplifying the system offers them the opportunity to be more competitive in the international marketplace.”

The president’s initiatives also include consolidating licensing policies, export enforcement and information technology systems to make the export control licensing system more efficient.

“These initiatives will greatly improve our national security,” Blakey said. “Enhanced interoperability with friends and allies will increase our ability to defend our common interests, and better controls for truly sensitive items will help keep them out of the hands of our adversaries.”

For more information on AIA’s recommendations on export control modernization or to read AIA’s brochure “Ten Key Facts About Export Control Modernization,” please visit our website at: http://www.aia-aerospace.org/issues_policies/international/.