Articles Tagged with U.S. Munitions List (USML)

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In just a three-week period starting in September, the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published six rulemakings that make or propose notable changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). These include the following:

  • A broad omnibus proposed rule that would remove items from the U.S. Munitions List (USML), revise core definitions and add a new license exemption;
  • An interim final rule refining the USML to remove certain uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs);
  • Revisions to country policies, which, among other things: (1) remove Syria from the list of countries subject to a policy of denial; (2) clarify the policy-of-denial framework and update the major non-NATO ally list; and (3) continue the suspension of Cyprus’s status as a proscribed destination for another year;

Taken together, these actions show a consistent push to focus ITAR controls on the most sensitive and sophisticated technologies. They also aim to improve regulatory clarity and reduce burdens on industry. Below, we summarize the key takeaways from each rulemaking based on potential impact to defense trade.

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