Export applications to face presumption of denial beginning September 1, 2021
WASHINGTON (Commerce Department PR) — On March 1, 2021, the Secretary of State determined pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 that the Government of Russia used chemical weapons in violation of international law or lethal chemical weapons against its own nationals.
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Commercial Space Competitiveness Strategy for the 21st Century
Aerospace Industries Association
The United States was the leader in space for much of the early Space Age after initial Soviet successes. From the development of the Saturn V rocket and the Apollo Lunar landing program, to development of the first communications satellites and the Global Positioning System, the U.S. has been the primary driver of both the exploration and commercial utilization of space.
AIA PRESS RELEASE
President Obama presented a series of initiatives at today’s meeting of the President’s Export Council chaired by W. James McNerney, Jr. of The Boeing Company to speed the progress of export control modernization. McNerney is the chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of the company.
The announcement included the launch of a process to revise the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and Commerce Control List (CCL), along with the results of a first attempt at revising export controls on military vehicles, proposals to eliminate Commerce licensing requirements for low sensitivity, dual-use exports to close partners and allies and establishment of a consolidated list of entities that require extra scrutiny by U.S. companies before exporting.
Curbs on DRDO, ISRO go
Deccan Herald
US President Barack Obama on Saturday made the much-awaited announcement of taking important Indian defence and space research institutions like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited off the high-tech ban list.
Speaking at an Indo-US business meeting, Obama said the “dual-use†rules, by which high-tech exports by American manufacturers to the DRDO and ISRO are banned, would be amended and updated. The “dual use†refers to technology that can be utilised for both civilian and defence purposes.
No pact likely on US commercial satellite launch by ISRO
Indian Express
With the US still in the process of finalising export reforms on commercial satellites by restructuring the US Munitions List on spacecraft, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is not expecting to see a much anticipated Commercial Satellites Launch Agreement (CSLA) inked during the visit of US President Barack Obama later this week.
The CSLA, seen as a progression on a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) signed in July 2009 during the visit of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will allow US commercial satellites or satellites with US components to be launched on ISRO space vehicles, significantly opening up the nearly $2 billion global space launch business for India.
The CSLA has been on the negotiating table for high technology partnerships between the two countries for a long time now and is considered by ISRO officials to be close to agreement.
Read the full story.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)Â have both applauded efforts announced this week by the Obama Administration to continue reforming the nation’s restrictive ITAR export reform laws.
“AIAA applauds President Obama’s recently announced changes to the ITAR policy that will consolidate the export review process under one agency, and will better enable the flow of U.S. products into the international marketplace without compromising national security,” said AIAA President Mark Lewis.
Space News has more evidence of the damage that restrictive export laws are having on U.S. high technology companies:
The European Space Agency (ESA) is promoting the creation of European expertise in certain propulsion technologies to avoid technology-transfer roadblocks associated with U.S. components even if the U.S. hardware is substantially less expensive, ESA officials said.
Obama Repeats Call for Export Control Reform
Space News
The White House said in a news release following the speech that details of the new National Export Initiative will be announced in the coming weeks, but the release indicated that the effort includes the creation of the President’s Export Promotion Cabinet and an enhancement of funding for key export promotion programs…
Statement by AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey on President Obama’s State of the Union Address
We’re very pleased that President Obama is making it a priority this year to double exports, enforce trade agreements and reform export controls consistent with national security. Trade expansion and export control modernization are longtime priorities of AIA and recognition of their importance by the President sets a positive tone for action this year.
Space News reports that President Barack Obama has made export control reform a key priority for the new year.
U.S. President Barack Obama has directed his administration to recommend by no later than Jan. 29 steps leading to an overhaul of the U.S. export control regime, according to a presidential directive signed Dec. 21.
SPACE FOUNDATION PRESS RELEASE
Dec. 11, 2009
The Space Foundation provided NASA’s new associate administrator for public affairs an opportunity to talk with reporters at a Space Foundation Correspondents Group (SFCG) breakfast on Dec. 10 in Washington, D.C.
Morrie Goodman, who has been in his position seven weeks, told the group he feels that NASA’s biggest challenge will be continuing to inspire people about the space program as the Space Shuttle retires and no new vehicle is immediately available.
AIA Presses Obama on Export-Control Reform
Space News
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to introduce legislation this month that could lead to a House-Senate conference next year in what lawmakers consider language-easing restrictions on U.S. commercial communications satellite exports.
Canada’s space program hampered by U.S. laws
The Kingston Whig Standard
Canada’s space program has lots of ideas and commercial potential, but one of the big things holding it back is the lack of a Canadian launch program, the Canadian Space Summit was told over the weekend.
Also, both the military and civilian space research programs in Canada are hobbled by the fact that the country needs to rely on rockets launched by India, China or Russia, over which the U. S. holds wide-ranging veto powers.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE
President Obama announced yesterday that he is directing the National Security Council and the National Economic Council to undertake a comprehensive review of the U.S. export control system.
“This is a very welcome development,†said AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey. “AIA has been a long-standing proponent of a more predictable, efficient and transparent U.S. export control system.
U.S. business welcomes Obama export control review
Reuters
U.S. high-technology exporters on Friday welcomed President Barack Obama’s decision to undertake a comprehensive review of U.S. export controls rooted in Cold War fears of the former Soviet Union.
