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The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Commerce published regulations today that streamline U.S. export controls on certain military electronics by shifting less sensitive equipment, parts, and components from Category XI of the Department's U.S. Munitions List (USML) to the Department of Commerce's Commerce Control List (CCL). These changes, which are part of the President's Export Control Reform Initiative, enhance our national security by increasing interoperability with our close allies and partners. These changes also reduce incentives for purchasers to deliberately avoid U.S.-origin parts and components. As a result of these changes, the United States will have greater visibility on arms transfers and end-uses of concern, including human rights abuses. The changes will take effect on December 30, 2014.

Updating U.S. export control lists is a key component of the President's Export Control Reform Initiative. Export Control Reform increases the competitiveness of key U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors by focusing our controls on current threats, as well as adapting them to the changing economic and technological landscape. The initiative overhauls the Cold War-era system of regulations on exports of controlled technologies. Changes to Category XI were based on exhaustive technical and policy reviews conducted by the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce, as well as representatives from other relevant departments and agencies. These reforms were also developed in close consultation with Congress and the private sector, which provided extensive public review and comment on the proposed changes.

With this final rule, 15 of 21 Categories of the U.S. Munitions List have been successfully revised under the Export Control Reform Initiative. Work continues on the remaining categories and other efforts to modernize and harmonize the export control regulations.

Visit http://export.gov/ecr/for more information on the President’s Export Control Reform Initiative. Additional information is available on the Export Control Reform page of the Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls website. For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..