Where Industry and Security Intersect
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WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Export Administration (BXA), which oversees U.S. exports of dual-use commodities, technology and software, today issued a reminder to U.S. exporters about the importance of compliance with export regulations and issued detailed steps it has taken -- and will take -- to enhance its licensing process and enforcement operations. This action reflects BXA’s commitment to ensure U.S. security concerns are met at a time when the worldwide demand for U.S. high technology is stronger than ever. Controlling exports of U.S. technology has become much more difficult since the end of the cold war. The globalization of technology has brought an increased recognition that our national security depends on controlling exports to entities that could misuse U.S. technologies and products rather than country blocs.
"Our compliance program is extensive, but the new year provides an opportunity to remind business of its responsibilities. The steps announced today will make our own efforts more systematic and comprehensive," said Commerce Under Secretary William A. Reinsch, BXA’s top-ranking official. "We will continue to update the way we work to reflect changes around the world that effect U.S. government and business interests," he said.
BXA will standardize the conditions it applies to licenses and require exporters to notify other parties in the sale of those conditions, and to obtain written acknowledgment from the end-user overseas. Licensing conditions are sometimes necessary to make certain approved items are in the correct location being used in an appropriate way.
BXA will also increase its volume of pre-license checks and post-shipment visits. Agency enforcement personnel will focus on shipments that have special conditions attached to the license to make certain those conditions are being met.
Audits will be conducted on companies operating under Special Comprehensive Licenses (a form of bulk licensing available to companies with strong internal control systems) and for products shipped under license exception (those items that do not require individual licenses).
Finally, field offices and Headquarters staff will increase outreach efforts to ensure compliance with regulations through current programs, including BEET (Business Executives’ Enforcement Team), individual company visits, and through a new freight forwarder, distributors and trading companies initiative and other programs as necessary.
Data sharing with other federal law enforcement agencies has been a benchmark of BXA’s export control efforts. Today’s announcement includes expanded procedures to improve that system with daily exchanges on license approvals and denials and other actions.
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.