Where Industry and Security Intersect
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The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today began two days of talks with visiting representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the United States-Hong Kong Strategic Trade Dialogue. These discussions, which are held annually, are being hosted this year by the Commerce Department, in conjunction with officials from the Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. The discussions allow for an exchange of views between the United States and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on current export control and strategic trade issues. This year's discussions will focus on steps that each side is taking to strengthen enforcement of export controls and on cooperation in furtherance of the Commerce Department's Transshipment Country Export Control Initiative.
"The Department of Commerce values our cooperation with Hong Kong on export control issues. The continuation of these discussions is a testament to the strength of our relationship and the importance of our joint efforts to address new challenges involving strategic trade," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Kenneth I. Juster. Under Secretary Juster also emphasized that "As markets and trade flows change, the United States and Hong Kong must adapt in order to fulfill our shared goal of controlling goods that can be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction."
The discussions this year mark the eighth session of the bilateral talks on export control issues. This regular dialogue was established in 1997, when Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.