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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Department of Commerce Under Secretary for Export Administration William Reinsch will detail the Clinton Administration's policy of streamlining export procedures for encryption products, thereby matching EU export practices, when he addresses the Information Security Solutions Europe 2000 Conference in Barcelona, Spain on September 27.
In his speech, Reinsch will express concern about the potential creation of "de facto" trade barriers within the EU aimed at U.S. encryption products. Reinsch will voice his hope that "the EU will not impose trade barriers or standards to block sales of American products." An example of a potentially discriminatory barrier is a labeling certificate system that is biased against U.S. products.
In the past eight months the Clinton Administration has updated U.S. export controls to allow most encryption product sales without a license to all countries except those that support terrorism. In addition, the U.S. now allows the immediate export of encryption items, including transfers of technology, under the same provision to all EU member countries, Australia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland and Switzerland. This change mainly affects exports to EU governments.
Reinsch will also outline efforts to develop international initiatives protecting critical infrastructures against cyberterrorism and cybercrime. "It is vital that all nations recognize the threats to public safety and national security posed by cybercrime and cyberterrorism. Networked computers are now integral to every segment of developed nations' critical infrastructure, from electronic power grids to transportation services," Reinsch will point out. "It is important for all nations, both developed and developing, to create internationally compatible infrastructure protections for governments and businesses."
Under Secretary Reinsch will address the Information Solutions Security 2000 Conference on September 27 and participate in a panel discussion entitled "Export Regulations and Crypto Policies," with conference participants on September 28.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.