DDTC introduces OGL pilot programme
The US Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (‘DDTC’) has issued two Open General Licenses (‘OGLs’) – numbers 1 and 2 – which it says, implement a pilot programme for a new mechanism for ‘licensing reexports and retransfers of unclassified defense articles to pre-approved parties within Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.’
It says the two OGLs are valid for one year, effective from 1 August 2022, and that ‘DDTC will evaluate the merits of this new licensing mechanism during that period and may extend or amend the licenses prior to their expiration date.’
DDTC says the programme is part of its continuous review of options for furthering ‘an effective modern and agile export control system,’ and that it is ‘similar in concept’ to models in use in Australia, Japan, the UK [where open general licences are known as “OGELs”] and some other jurisdictions.
‘Implementation of the pilot program is consistent with DDTC’s mission of ensuring that commercial exports of defense articles and defense services advance U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives, in part by facilitating legitimate defense trade with partners and allies while denying adversaries access to sensitive U.S. technology,’ says the Directorate.
