Export Controls

The United States and several major trading partners created the Missile Technology Control Regime in 1987 to control the spread of missile technology. To carry out the U.S. commitment to the agreement, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1991, which amended two U.S. export control statutes: the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act. Two federal agencies, the Department of Commerce and the Department of State, are responsible for implementing the regulations for controlling missile technology exports. This report discusses whether the regulations for controlling the export of Missile Technology Control Regime items (1) are consistent with U.S. law and (2) provide a consistent U.S. policy on the control of missile technology. GAO found that Commerce's export regulations are inconsistent with an amendment to the Export Administration Act that requires an individual export license for all controlled dual-use missile equipment and technology to all countries. Commerce's regulations do not require licenses for the export of controlled missile equipment and technology to Canada. Commerce did not cite any section of this statute or its legislative history to justify the inconsistency between its regulations and the statutory requirement. GAO found that State's export regulations are consistent with the amendment to the Arms Export Control Act. The inconsistency between Commerce's regulatory exemption and the Export Administration Act, along with different interpretations by Commerce and State of congressional intent, contributes to a divided U.S. government policy toward Canada and toward missile proliferation.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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