U.S. EASES SOME EXPORT RESTRICTIONS ON NORTH KOREA

U.S. EASES SOME EXPORT RESTRICTIONS ON NORTH KOREA    The U.S. government has started to ease restrictions on certain exports to North Korea.
   The move comes in response to President Clinton’s decision on Sept. 17, to ease sanctions against North Korea, which is consistent with the 1994 Agreed Framework and the 1999 Perry Report to improve relations between the countries.
   The Commerce’s Bureau of Export Administration said that most items once subject to the Export Administration Regulations, EAR99, may be exported or re-exported to North Korea without a license.
   In addition, the agency is changing the licensing policy for certain items on the Commerce Control List destined to North Korean civil end-users from a policy of denial to case-by-case review.
   However, the agency said this doesn’t affect U.S. antiterrorism or non-proliferation export controls on North Korea. The Export Administration advises shippers to “know your customer” when exporting to North Korea.
   Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Transportation Department will also adjust their rules accordingly.
   The government will be accepting comments on the interim rule from the industry and general public through July 19, prior to finalizing the rules.