Obama: ITAR Export Reform to be Unveiled in Coming Weeks

Gates To Outline Export Reform Plan by April
Space News

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will outline in the coming weeks a plan to reform the U.S. export control system that governs the sale of sensitive technologies overseas, including U.S. commercial communications satellites, according to U.S. President Barack Obama.

During a March 11 speech at an annual Export-Import Bank conference here, Obama said his administration had completed a sweeping assessment of current export laws and regulations governing the sale of sensitive technologies to foreign countries, and that Gates would unveil subsequent reforms before the end of March.

“We’ve conducted a broad review of the export control system, and Secretary Gates will outline our reform proposal within the next couple weeks,” Obama said in remarks prepared for a speech delivered to some 1,000 U.S. exporters attending the annual conference….

In addition, Obama announced plans to revive the President’s Export Council, a private-sector advisory panel to be led by Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney and Xerox Chief Executive Ursula Burns.

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