The United States is a member of the four multilateral export control regimes:
- Australia Group
Chemical and Biological Nonproliferation - Nuclear Suppliers
Group
Nuclear Nonproliferation - Missile Technology
Control Regime
Unmanned Systems Capable of Delivering Weapons of Mass Destruction - Wassenaar
Arrangement
Conventional Weapons and Dual-Use Products and Technologies
Set forth below are brief descriptions of the objectives of each export control regime with links to their web sites and pertinent U.S. regulations.
Beneath each description, we have provided links to Federal Register Notices which address recent changes in U.S. regulatory and licensing policy for the regimes. Check this site regularly for updates that address changes in controls implemented by each of these regimes.
Australia Group (AG):
AG
Guidelines
Organisation for
the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
BIS
EAR Part 742 (pdf)
BIS
EAR Part 744 (pdf)
BIS
EAR Part 745 (pdf)
US CWC
Website
The AG is an informal association of countries committed to the nonproliferation of chemical and biological weapons through coordinated export control measures.
AG members agree to require licenses for the export of certain chemicals, biological agents as well as selected equipment that could be used for the development of weapons of mass destruction. The AG also specifies guidelines that members implement in considering applications for the transfers of listed items.
The AG reviews and often modifies the lists of items subject to control as well as its implementation guidelines. As these controls change, member states adopt the modifications into their national programs.
The AG complements but is not a substitute for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). In this regard, the CWC specifies certain additional trade restrictions that member states are obliged to enforce.
The United States implements the export controls set forth by the AG and the CWC as well as additional unilateral controls designed to impede the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.
Update - July 08, 2008
Update - September 12, 2007
Implementation
of the Understandings Reached at the June 2007
Australia Group (AG) Plenary
Meeting;
Update -
December 24, 2006
Clarifications
and Corrections;
Additions to the List of
States Parties to the CWC
Update - June
22, 2006
Clarification
of Controls on Medical Products on the AG
Common Control Lists;
Additions to the List
of States Parties to the CWC
Update - June
12, 2006
Clarifications
and Corrections;
Additions to the List of
States Parties to the CWC
Update -
August 05, 2005
Clarifications
and Corrections;
Additions to the List of
States Parties to the CWC
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR):
MTCR
Guidelines
BIS
EAR Part 742 (pdf)
BIS
EAR Part 744 (pdf)
The MTCR is an informal association of countries committed to limit the proliferation of unmanned systems capable of delivering chemical, biological and nuclear weapons through coordinated export control measures. The MTCR specifies lists of items subject to control as well as guidelines for the transfer of listed items.
The MTCR divides its lists into two categories. Category I includes items of the greatest sensitivity and focuses on systems with capabilities exceeding a range of 300 kilometers and a payload of 500 kilograms. The guidelines specify that "Particular restraint will be exercised in the consideration of Category I transfers regardless of their purpose, and there will be a strong presumption to deny such transfers." Category II focuses on systems that have a maximum range of 300 kilometers with no lower limit for payload capability. Items in Category II include a wide range of dual-use technologies; member countries are expected to ensure that transfers of Category II items do not contribute to missile systems for delivery of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The MTCR reviews and often modifies the lists of items subject to control as well as its implementation guidelines. As these controls change, member states adopt the modifications into their national programs.
The United States implements the export controls set forth by the MTCR as well as additional unilateral controls designed to impede the proliferation of missile systems capable of delivering WMD.
Update - April 20, 2010
Update - November 9, 2009
Update - June 16, 2008
Update - May
7, 2007
Update -
September 06, 2006
Revisions
to the EAR Based on the 2005 MTCR Plenary
Agreements;
Update - July
31, 2006
Revisions
to the EAR Licence Exceptions Based on the 2004
MTCR Plenary Agreements;
Update - May
24, 2005
Proposed
Rule: Imposition of License Requirement for
Exports and Reexports of MT-Controlled Items
Destined to Canada;
Update -
March 10, 2005
Revisions
to the EAR Licence Exceptions Based on the 2004
MTCR Plenary Agreements;
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG):
NSG
Guidelines
BIS
EAR Part 742 (pdf)
BIS
EAR Part 744 (pdf)
The NSG is an association of countries committed to limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The NSG specifies lists of items subject to control as well as guidelines for the transfers of listed items. The NSG complements the nuclear nonproliferation activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and many of its guidelines relate to IAEA obligations.
The NSG divides its lists into two categories:
1) Items that are specifically designed for nuclear use (e.g., reactors) and,
2) dual-use items that could contribute to the activities of an unsafeguarded nuclear program but also have non-nuclear uses (e.g., machine tools). The NSG has separate guidelines for the transfers of items on each list.
The NSG reviews and modifies the lists of items subject to control as well as its implementation guidelines. As these controls change, member states adopt the modifications into their national programs.
The United Stated implements the export controls set forth by the NSG as well as additional unilateral controls designed to impede the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Update - August 30,
2005
Removal
of License Requirements for Exports and
Reexports to India of Items Controlled
Unilaterally for Nuclear Nonproliferation
Reasons and Removal of Certain Indian Entiites
From the Entity List
Wassenaar Arrangement (WA):
Wassenaar
Guidelines
BIS
EAR Part 742 (pdf)
BIS
EAR Part 744 (pdf)
The WA is an informal association of countries seeking to foster regional and international stability through the control of conventional weapons and dual-use technologies that could be used to produce them. The WA is designed to complement but not duplicate the efforts of the three nonproliferation export control regimes (AG, MTCR and NSG).
The WA has a list of list of dual use goods and technologies and a munitions list. It also has guidelines for the transfer of these items. The WA reviews and often modifies the lists of items subject to control as well as its implementation guidelines. As these controls change, member states adopt the modifications into their national programs. Since the WA is an informal arrangement, all decisions are taken at national discretion.
The United States implements Wassenaar controls as well as a range of unilateral controls designed to ensure that transfers of weapons and dual-use items do not contribute to regional instability or military activities that are inimical to U.S. interests. The United States implements the WA dual-use list primarily by including WA dual-use list items on the Commerce Control List, part of the Export Administration Regulations. The United States controls weapons primarily by listing relevant items on the U.S. Munitions List (USML), a part of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The USML does not follow the structure of the WA list.
Update - October 14, 2008
Update - February 05,
2008
Update -
November 05, 2007
December
2006 WA Plenary Agreement Implementation:
Wassenaar Reporting Requirements;
Definitions; and
Statement of Understanding
on Source Code; Final Rule
Update -
September 07, 2006
December
2005 WA Plenary Agreement Implementation:
Telecommunications, Information Security;
Wassenaar Reporting Requirements;
Definitions;
and Certain New or Expanded
Export Controls
Update - July
26, 2005
December
2004 WA Plenary Agreement Implementation:
Telecommunications, Information Security;
Wassenaar Reporting Requirements;
Definitions;
and Certain New or Expanded
Export Controls;
Final Rule;
Update - July
15, 2005
December
2004 WA Plenary Agreement Implementation:
Telecommunications, Information Security;
Wassenaar Reporting Requirements;
Definitions;
and Certain New or Expanded
Export Controls