State Department rolls out paperless export control system

State Department rolls out paperless export control system The U.S. State Department has rolled out a new electronic licensing system for defense exports.
   The system, called “D-Trade,” will help the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs to more efficiently control the licensing of defense-related exports goods and services regulated by the U.S. Munitions List and the Arms Export Control Act.
   “D-Trade is the first entirely paperless, most user friendly and security-sensitive defense technology export licensing system ever created,” said Secretary of State Colin Powell in a statement Feb. 18. “D-Trade is important because it’s one of many moving parts within the U.S. national security system.”
   It’s estimated that the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls processes more than 56,000 export license applications a year, which are valued at $25 billion.
   The agency expects the system to enhance its ability to enforce defense export control regulations. “So, as soon as that license is submitted and signed, if (exporters) break the Arms Export Control Act, the electronic submission and the paper submission are both documents which can be taken to court,” said Lincoln Bloomfield, assistant secretary of state.