DDTC continues US licensing but warns of likely delays due to coronavirus

The US State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (‘DDTC’) has said it is carrying out licensing duties as normal during the coronavirus advisory but warned that longer processing times were likely because of staff shortages.

DDTC said that for licensing, all electronic application systems are currently in normal operational mode and new licences continue to be accepted for processing. ‘However, industry is advised of the likelihood of longer than normal processing times due to a reduction in the availability of staff in multiple organizations to review applications.’

Enrolment and registration requests are still operating via the Defense Export Control and Compliance System (‘DECCS’) and are being processed as they are submitted, it explained. ‘Commodity Jurisdiction and General Correspondence requests continue to be processed, but responses may be delayed by this current operational environment,’ the 19 March advisory said.

It added that, ‘Persons submitting a disclosure and/or related information (e.g., exhibits, extension requests, responses to DTCC inquires) are encouraged to send such information via email,’ or by US mail if email is not possible.

https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public?id=ddtc_public_portal_news_and_events