Coalition drafts U.S. export controls reform

Coalition drafts U.S. export controls reform    A group of nearly 20 trade associations sent a detailed plan Tuesday to President Obama outlining their vision for reform of the nation's aging export control regime.
   'The United States export control system has not been significantly revised in more than 20 years,' said the Coalition for Security and Competitiveness, in a statement. 'The result is a system that no longer fully protects our national security, has not kept up with accelerating technological change, and does not function with the efficiency and transparency needed to keep the United States competitive in the global marketplace.'

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   The coalition believes export control modernization can be accomplished in the near term by structuring reform around five key themes:
   ' Draw clear lines of agency responsibility.
   ' Control lists should be revised and reduced.
   ' Complete the transition to an end user-based system.
   ' Enhance cooperation with allies.
   ' Enhance cooperation with the business community.
   The recommendations are in addition to what the coalition sent to the Obama administration in October 2009. 'Taken together, our principles and recommendations would create a 21st century export control regime that protects critical technologies, safeguards our national security, spurs innovation, and promotes economic growth,' the coalition said.
   The coalition was formed in 2007 by large Washington-based trade groups, such as the Aerospace Industries Association, American Chemistry Council, Information Technology Industry Council, National Association of Manufacturers, National Foreign Trade Council, Satellite Industry Association, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to develop recommendations for improving the U.S. export system.
   The American Association of Exporters and Importers, also a coalition member, noted that central to the recommendations is adopting the 'trusted trader' concept as a government/industry partnership for U.S. export oversight.
   Melvin Schwechter, co-chairman of the AAEI Export Compliance and Facilitation Committee, said there are other recommendations that would further improve the export control process, including:
   ' Providing updated statutory civil penalty and voluntary disclosure provisions.
   ' Moving judicial review of export control actions to the U.S. Court of International Trade.
   ' Involving the National Security Advisor throughout the commodity jurisdiction process.
   ' Establishing an account-based system similar to that used by Customs and Border Protection.