Export Controls
Assessment of Commerce Department's Report on Missile Technology Controls Gao ID: NSIAD-88-159 May 24, 1988Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Secretary of Commerce's report to Congress on the imposition of foreign policy controls on the export of missile equipment and technology related to nuclear weapons delivery systems.
GAO found that the report: (1) complied with the statutory reporting requirements; (2) discussed the availability of controlled items from foreign sources; (3) focused on the countries participating in the control regime as the major suppliers; (4) did not include information on other countries with sophisticated missile capabilities that may be capable of undermining the controls; (5) did not present any information regarding the capability of several countries as suppliers of less sophisticated missile-related equipment and technology; and (6) stated that enforcing the controls would present no new problems, since most of the controlled items were already covered under arms export controls.