Implement Export Control Initiatives to Facilitate High-Tech

Commerce Takes Steps to Implement Export Control Initiatives to Facilitate High-Tech Trade with India

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce today took the first steps to implement the export control policy initiatives announced by President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Singh on November 8, 2010.

“Today’s action marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and moving forward with export control reforms that will facilitate high technology trade and cooperation,” said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security today published a Federal Register Notice which updates the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) in several ways, including:

· Removing several Indian space- and defense-related companies from the Entity List. Removal from the Entity List eliminates a license requirement specific to the companies, and results in the removed companies being treated the same way as any other destination in India for export licensing purposes.

· Removing India from several country groups in the EAR resulting in the removal of export license requirements that were tied to India’s placement in those country groups.

· Adding India to a country group in the EAR that consists of members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, to recognize and communicate India’s adherence to the regime, the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and India’s global non-proliferation standing. .

“These changes reaffirm the U.S. commitment to work with India on our mutual goal of strengthening the global nonproliferation framework,” said Under Secretary of Commerce Eric L. Hirschhorn.

In February, Secretary Locke will lead 24 U.S. businesses on a high-tech trade mission to India. The delegation, which also includes senior officials from the Export-Import Bank (EX-IM) and the Trade Development Agency (TDA), will make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Background

BIS controls exports and re-exports of dual-use commodities, technology and software for reasons of national security, missile technology, nuclear non-proliferation, chemical and biological weapons non-proliferation, crime control, regional stability and foreign policy. Criminal penalties and administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of the Export Administration Regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.bis.doc.gov