Finding Common Language for ITAR and EAR Rules Will Reduce Burdens, Says Wolf
Reducing the regulatory burden by using common terms and definitions between Export Administration Regulations with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations is a core objective of this harmonization initiative, said Assistant Secretary of Commerce-Export Administration Kevin Wolf. Wolf, along with representatives from the State Department and private industry, spoke at a conference sponsored by the American Bar Association's Section of International Law and the Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee in Washington, DC on July 21. Fewer and more clear regulations will facilitate an "export nirvana," he said. In an effort to harmonize EAR and ITAR, representatives from the Department of State, the Department of Commerce and private industry are discussing the proposed rules and definitions (see 1506020016">1506020016).
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
Export compliance officers must meet the knowledge requirement to do their due diligence before releasing information into the public domain, Wolf said. The Department of State and the Department of Commerce must have corresponding requirements to help avoid confusion and ensure the knowledge requirement is met, he said. Now that Export Control Reform has redirected control of dual-use items to EAR from ITAR (see 1505210063), the exporting process is more confusing than ever and common phrases and definitions are necessary to simplify the process and create a unified export control system, Wolf said.