Under Secretary of Commerce Mario Mancuso Addresses
 American Bar Association;
Remarks Highlight Interdependence of U.S. Security and Prosperity

WASHINGTON – Under Secretary of Commerce Mario Mancuso today delivered keynote remarks to a joint session of the international trade and export control committees of the American Bar Association.  Under Secretary Mancuso emphasized that dramatic changes on the international security and economic landscapes necessitated regulatory reforms to continue to advance US national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives. 

Under Secretary Mancuso highlighted two key points:

• That passing the Export Enforcement Act of 2007, which would renew the Export Administration Act, was “absolutely vital” for national security.  Under Secretary Mancuso added that “this legislation will bolster our diplomatic efforts around the world to persuade countries—particularly those countries of transshipment concern—to adopt, fully implement and enforce, and improve their own export control regimes.  It is more difficult to make a credible and persuasive case to other nations to enact effective export controls when our own country doesn’t have a permanent dual-use export control law on the books.”

• Under Secretary Mancuso also noted that in a new strategic environment marked by hyper-competition and global technology leveling, it was critical for  the U.S. to “complement smart and effective export controls with an affirmative, whole-of -government strategy to outdistance our competitors, to remain the most innovative, the most competitive economy in the world.”

BACKGROUND
Under Secretary Mancuso heads the Bureau of Industry and Security which promotes continued U.S. strategic technology leadership and helps to advance national security, foreign policy and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system. 

Mr. Mancuso is responsible for global dual-use trade policy, and leads multilateral and bilateral strategic trade dialogues for the U. S., including the U.S.-China High Technology and Strategic Trade Working Group and the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group, and manages a bureau with offices throughout the United States and in China, India, Hong Kong, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.