The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Dec. 30 released a fact sheet for its recently issued rule that finalized an exemption for defense trade among the AUKUS partners -- the U.S., Australia and the U.K. -- within the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (see 2512290017). The fact sheet covers the "key elements" of the exemption, including who can be authorized users, the items on the Excluded Technology List that can't be used with the exemption, and more. DDTC also noted that its rule codified the requirement for the agency to adjudicate licenses for Australia, the U.K., and Canada within 30-45 days "when the transfer or activity cannot be undertaken under an ITAR exemption," and it authorizes "the reexport and retransfer of classified defense articles to certain dual nationals under certain circumstances."
The State Department is finalizing and making several changes to a 2024 AUKUS rule that created an exemption for defense trade among the U.S., Australia and the U.K., including one change that will create a new and separate exemption for exports to support the armed forces of the three nations. The agency also used the final rule to respond to a host of public comments from the 2024 change, declining several recommendations to limit the scope of the Excluded Technology List and providing more guidance about how the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls treats expedited licensing, who qualifies as an authorized user, and more.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is continuing an initiative that offers a $500 discount for certain registrants with DDTC, the agency announced last week.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the DDTC Response Team and the agency's help desk will be closed beginning Dec. 24 because of the federal holiday, the agency announced this week. The Response Team will resume normal operations Dec. 29 at 8 a.m. ET, and the help desk will be back Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. ET. During this time, users can submit a support ticket using DDTC's virtual AI agent (see 2512160059) or through the agency's contact page. "Please be aware that, due to the holiday closure and a potential increase in inquiries, response times may be longer than usual and could extend into the following week. Processing of classified provisos for delivery may also be delayed."
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is launching an AI virtual agent Dec. 19 to provide DDTC site users with information technology support and to "enhance the DDTC experience for defense industry users." The agent, which will be "available 24/7," will use AI to "answer common IT questions instantly and guide users to helpful IT resources, making it easier and faster to resolve routine IT issues." For more complex questions, users can use the agent to connect with a human Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, DDTC said.
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The U.K. has formally acceded to the Agreement on Defense Export Controls, a partnership with France, Germany and Spain aimed at removing obstacles to license application approvals.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is seeking public comments on one information collection related to nontransfer and use certificates and another involving Part 130 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has sent a new final rule for interagency review that involves the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and U.S. Munitions List. The rule, sent for review Dec. 9, is titled "International Traffic in Arms Regulations: USML 2025 Supplemental Rule 2." The agency didn't release more information.
U.S. and Australian officials voiced support for the AUKUS arrangement in Washington this week and "reaffirmed their commitment" to expanding the use of export control license exemptions by both nations, according to a State Department fact sheet.