Monthly Archives: February 2018

State and Commerce Departments Request Comments on USML Categories V, X, and XI and Related ECCNs

State Department Request for Comments

On February 2, the Department of State published a notice (83 FR 5970) seeking comments on the following topics as they relate to U.S. Munitions List (USML) Categories V (Explosives and Energetic Materials, Propellants, Incendiary Agents, and Their Constituents), X (Personal Protective Equipment), and XI (Military Electronics).  Specifically, the notice requests comments on the following issues:

  1. Emerging and new technologies that are appropriately controlled by one of the referenced categories, but which are not currently described in subject categories or not described with sufficient clarity.
  1. Defense articles that are described in subject categories, but which have entered into normal commercial use since the most recent revisions to the category at issue. For such comments, be sure to include documentation to support claims that defense articles have entered into normal commercial use.
  1. Defense articles for which commercial use is proposed, intended, or anticipated in the next 5 years.
  1. Drafting or other technical issues in the text of all of the referenced categories.
  1. Comments regarding USML Category XI paragraph (b) modification.
  1. Potential cost savings to private entities from shifting control of specific commercial items from USML to the Export Administration Regulations. To the extent possible, please quantify the cost of compliance with USML control of commercial items, to include the time saved, the reduction in paperwork, and any other cost savings for a particular change.

Comments may be submitted by internet at www.regulations.gov (Docket No. DOS–2017–0017) or by email to DDTCPublicComments@ state.gov through April 13, 2018.  Comments will be published and should not include proprietary or other sensitive information.

For the current USML categories, click here.

Commerce Department Request for Comments

In a related notice (83 FR 5968), the Department of Commerce requests comments on the following Commerce Control List (CCL) ECCNs (Export Control Classification Numbers): energetic materials (1B608, 1C608, 1D608 and 1E608); armored and protective equipment (1A613, 1B613, 1D613, 1E613); military electronics (3A611, 3B611, 3D611 and 3E611); and cryogenic and superconducting equipment (9A620, 9B620, 9D620 and 9E620).  Specifically, the notice requests comments on the efficacy of the previous revisions, how to improve the implementation of these 600 series items on the CCL, and the potential cost savings of shifting control of these specific items from the USML to the CCL.

Comments may be submitted by internet at www.regulations.gov (Docket No BIS–2018–0004) through April 13, 2018.  Comments will be published and should not include proprietary or other sensitive information.

For the current CCL categories click here.

South Sudan Policy of Denial; Will be Added to 126.1 Prohibited Destinations

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has published a web notice announcing a policy change for South Sudan:

Change in Policy on Exports of Defense Articles and Defense Services to South Sudan (2.2.18)
Pursuant to section 38(a) of the Arms Export Control Act and the delegated authority of the Secretary of State thereunder, the Secretary has determined that it is the policy of the Department of State to deny, with limited exceptions, export licenses or other approvals for defense articles and defense services subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and destined for South Sudan. This policy is effective immediately. DDTC will publish a rule in the Federal Register to implement a conforming change to ITAR §126.1.

Sudan is already listed as a prohibited destination under ITAR § 126.1, which includes a note on South Sudan’s previous post-independence status:

Note to §126.1. On July 9, 2011, the Republic of South Sudan declared independence from Sudan and was recognized as a sovereign state by the United States. This policy does not apply to the Republic of South Sudan. Licenses or other approvals for exports or imports of defense articles and defense services destined for or originating in the Republic of the South Sudan will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The State Department has also published a more detailed press release on the policy change based on continuing violence in South Sudan.

UPDATE:  The amendment (83 FR 6457) adds South Sudan under 126.1(w) effective February 14, 2018:

(w) South Sudan. It is the policy of the United States to deny licenses or other approvals for exports of defense articles and defense services destined for South Sudan, except that a license or other approval may be issued, on a case-by-case basis, for:

(1) Defense articles and defense services for monitoring, verification, or peacekeeping support operations, including those authorized by the United Nations or operating with the consent of the relevant parties;

(2) Defense articles and defense services intended solely for the support of, or use by, African Union Regional Task Force (AU-RTF) or United Nations entities operating in South Sudan, including but not limited to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Police (UNPOL), or the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA);

(3) Defense articles and defense services intended solely for the support of or use by non-governmental organizations in furtherance of conventional weapons destruction or humanitarian demining activities;

(4) Non-lethal defense articles intended solely for humanitarian or protective use and related technical training and assistance;

(5) Personal protective equipment including flak jackets and helmets, temporarily exported to South Sudan by United Nations personnel, human rights monitors, representatives of the media, and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel, for their personal use only; or

(6) Any defense articles and defense services provided in support of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, or any successor agreement.