U.S. COMMERCE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES STEPS TO IMPLEMENT DEEMED EXPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced today that it has completed its review of the Deemed Export Advisory Committee’s (DEAC) report. The Department has begun to work with its U.S. government partners, including the Departments of Defense, State, and Energy, to consider the report’s analysis and recommendations as a basis for reforming current deemed export policy.

A deemed export is the transfer of sensitive dual-use technology to a foreign national working or studying in the United States.  Given the significant role that foreign nationals play in the U.S. research system, deemed export policy has significant implications for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.

“U.S. deemed export policy must account for the variety of risks we face. While our rules should not permit the transfer of sensitive U.S. technology to a real or potential adversary, they must ensure the United States remains the most innovative and competitive economy in the world,” said Mario Mancuso, under secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security.

DEAC Chairman Norman Augustine, retired Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, delivered the report to Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez in December 2007.  The Secretary asked BIS, the Commerce Agency with jurisdiction over global dual-use policy, to review the Committee’s recommendations.

While certain proposals under active consideration will require interagency support, Under Secretary Mancuso has directed BIS to immediately:

• Create an Emerging Technologies Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from leading research universities, government research labs, and industry to make recommendations to BIS regarding emerging technologies on a regular basis; and

• Improve outreach and engagement efforts to the academic and technology communities about the progress and scope of the deemed export policy efforts.

Background

The DEAC was commissioned by Secretary Gutierrez in September 2006 to examine the complex issue of deemed exports.  The text of The Deemed Export Rule in the Era of Globalization can be found at: http://tac.bis.doc.gov/2007/deacreport.pdf

Under Secretary of Commerce Mancuso leads BIS, 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.

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