Conventional Arms Export Control Reform: Cutting the Gordian Knot

摘要

The United States' export control system is too complicated and overly restrictive as multiple agencies enforce multiple antiquated laws and regulations. The export control system is oriented to Cold War conditions with a singular threat and a U.S. military technology industry that led the world in technology development. In today's environment, commercial demands lead technology development, not military needs. Many parts of the world have caught up with the U.S. in technology innovation leading to a fast paced highly competitive global technology market place. The U.S. export control system is unwieldy leading to over-protection of readily available technology and causing domestic suppliers to avoid the system bringing into question the adequate controls of truly critical technologies. While the Obama administration has made discernible progress towards streamlining the export control system, it needs Congressional support to fully implement its initiatives. This paper offers suggestions for additional measures, and potential alternative solutions absent Congressional help, that will cut the Gordian Knot of U.S. Export Controls and unshackle U.S. competitiveness in arms exports while providing sufficient protection of our key defense technologies.