The United States Department of Commerce is pleased to have agreed with the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China on procedures to strengthen end-use visit cooperation and help ensure that U.S. exports of controlled dual-use items are being used by their intended recipients for their intended purposes. This new end-use visit understanding specifies procedures for conducting end-use visits, while also providing a mechanism for consultations on other end-use visit issues that may arise. The understanding resolves a long-standing issue of great importance to the U.S.-China high-technology relationship. We hope that this understanding will enable increased U.S. exports to China of high-technology items. This new end-use visit understanding provides an important example of the United States and China working together to solve practical problems to the benefit of both their peoples.
The Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, has been in lapse since August 21, 2001. In the absence of an Export Administration Act, the U.S. dual-use export control system continues to be dependent on the President's invocation of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. As demonstrated by recent events, having a modern, coherent, and effective system of dual-use export controls -- to prevent terrorists, rogue states, and proliferators of weapons of mass destruction from accessing sensitive U.S.-origin goods and technology -- is now more important than ever. The Administration supports legislation to create a streamlined and strengthened export control system that effectively promotes both U.S. national security and U.S. economic interests.
Sigma-Aldrich Pays $1.76 Million Penalty to Settle Charges of Illegal Exports of Biological Toxins
The Department of Commerce recently published a new regulation that will streamline export controls on general purpose microprocessors, used worldwide in technology and commercial applications such as personal computers and cell phones.
Under the new rule, a license will only be required to export general purpose microprocessors to terrorist countries or for military end-uses or end-users in countries posing national security concerns.
Guidance on Reexports and other Offshore Transactions Involving U.S.-Origin Items
Remarks of Under Secretary Kenneth I. Juster, October 20, 2003