Summary

Pursuant to the Export Administration Amendments Act of 1985, GAO reviewed the Department of Commerce's reports to Congress on export controls to assess Commerce's compliance with statutory requirements.

GAO found that: (1) Commerce reported to Congress on the purpose of export controls, their compatibility with foreign policy, other nations' reactions, economic impacts, enforceability, and other information; (2) the reports met the act's requirements; (3) the reports addressed the issue of symbolic, largely unenforceable export controls intended to meet other foreign policy objectives; and (4) the reports did not adequately discuss the controls' enforceability.