President Biden issued Jan. 3 a memorandum updating policy guidance for the U.S. government’s implementation of the Missile Technology Control Regime, whose 35 members cooperate to reduce the proliferation of missiles for delivery of all types of weapons of mass destruction. The White House said these updates will help streamline defense trade, strengthen allied defense capabilities, and bolster the U.S. defense industrial base.
The White House said Biden’s memo directs federal agencies to provide increased flexibility for case-by-case review and to facilitate support for exports of certain MTCR Category I military missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and space launch vehicle systems to certain partners with strong export control systems. This support will explicitly exclude transfers of complete production facilities that encompass all capabilities necessary to produce a Category I system independently.
The memo also establishes that the MTCR is not designed to impede national space programs or international cooperation in such programs as long as they could not contribute to delivery systems for WMD. As a result, transfers of MTCR Category I SLV-related commodities, software, and technology will be considered on a case-by-case basis for select and vetted partner space programs and participation in international space programs, whether they are governmental or commercial in nature.
Finally, the memo reaffirms that the U.S. will maintain a general policy of not supporting the development or acquisition of MTCR Category I military missile systems (i.e., not SLVs) by non-MTCR partners. The U.S. will also work to stem the flow of advanced dual-use technology or expertise to unauthorized parties; i.e., end-users and end-uses that pose an unacceptable risk of diversion to programs and activities of concern.
For more information on this policy update and how it may affect your business, please contact your ST&R professional.
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