One week to go: DG Trade seeks stakeholder input on future of export controls

As at 7 January, there is just one week left to provide input to the European Commission DG Trade on the future direction of export controls, as the EU and United States look, in keeping with the statement issued in Pittsburgh in September, to align policy on key aspects of security and trade, consistent with the goals of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (‘TTC’), and in order to inform the work of the TTC’s Export Controls Working Group (‘ECWG’).

In its call for submissions, DG Trade states,

‘Export controls are necessary to fulfil our international obligations and commitments, preserve international security and protect human rights. Both the EU and the US share the view that a multilateral and transparent approach to export controls is most effective for preserving international security and protecting human rights, supporting a global level playing field and joint technology development and innovation.’

The Commission says that the consultation, which is being undertaken in parallel with the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (‘BIS’), is intended to help identify ‘concrete actions and expected outcomes relating to the areas and priorities for EU-US export control cooperation,’ and that ‘Stakeholders are invited to consider actions that have the potential to make US and /or EU dual-use export control policies and practices more convergent, efficient and effective, and generally fit for today’s challenges.’

See:

https://trade.ec.europa.eu/consultations/index.cfm?consul_id=312

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/u-s-eu-ttc