Congress report suggests creation of a new export control regime
Policymakers and experts agree that the United States should introduce a new export control regime that coordinates policy with smaller groups of like-minded nations. So says a report by the Congressional Research Service (‘CRS’).
‘Because of difficulties in reaching consensus among the memberships of existing export control arrangements, several policymakers and experts have advocated that the United States coordinate export control policy with smaller groups of likeminded states to achieve specific national security, foreign policy, and economic goals,’ said the report, published 8 September.
It explained that, ‘Some Members of Congress and other policymakers have advocated for the creation of a “fifth” regime, fashioned after CoCom, the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls, an informal agreement between the United States and most of its NATO allies, together with Australia and Japan.’
The CRS report noted that last February, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez said, ‘I believe we need a fifth mechanism outside the existing ones, which still work in their varying areas – missile control, nuclear control chem/bio.’
The report also noted that, ‘Over the past few years, members have also introduced legislation encouraging the United States to “explore the value of establishing a body akin to the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom) that would specifically coordinate United States and European Union export control policies with respect to limiting exports of sensitive technologies to the People’s Republic of China.”’
A new, fifth mechanism would be in addition to the four existing export control regimes: the Zangger Committee and Nuclear Suppliers Group control nuclear material and related technology; the Missile Technology Control Regime (‘MTCR’) relates to missiles and associated technology; the Australia Group controls biological and chemical weapons and related materials; and the Wassenaar Arrangement watches over conventional arms and dual-use goods.
The CRS report explained that: ‘The existing multilateral system is generally either too slow, too compromised, or too limited in terms of its nonproliferation-focused mandate. A new regime, these experts and officials argue, would provide space to coordinate on issues outside of the limited nonproliferation concerns the existing regimes address, including human rights abuses, and strategic economic competition. Moreover, they argue, a new regime might also be able to act with greater speed and efficiency, enabling the United States and its partners to quickly respond to events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine.’
