The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) enforces the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The Bureau is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which has the broad goal of furthering U.S. trade at home and abroad. The BIS is perhaps best known for regulating "dual-use" exports, products that can be used either for consumer purposes or to build military technologies.
As such, many high-tech exports are subject to BIS regulations, but other products fall under the bureau's supervision as well. Whether you are an entrepreneur or trade lawyer, you need to keep up with changing codes to ensure you are in compliance. There are several places where you can find reliable Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security news and trends:
1. The Bureau of Industry and Security of the US Department of Commerce is a good place to start. Its website features news and recent changes in the EAR.
2. You can also find information about the BIS on blogs that publish news about international trade.
3. There are several trade publications that also report on bureau of industry and security regulations and compliance issues.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Go straight to the source when looking for changes in BIS regulations
Government sources are the best place to go when looking for information in BIS regulations. In addition to the EAR itself, you'll find news about recent changes in the code, as well as information about relevant seminars and hearings.
I recommend: The
Bureau of Industry and Security has a feed of its recent newsworthy doings. The
International Trade Administration, which is tasked with ensuring trade compliance, publishes a blog. The
Wassenaar Arrangement is an international organization established to control the trade of military arms and dual-use technology; its function is like that of the BIS, but on a global scale.
Follow blogs to keep tabs on export regulations
Blogs are useful because they publish information as it becomes available. Those in the export industry can appreciate timely information, as changes in the EAR might mean big changes for their clients.
I recommend: International Trade Law News reports extensively on BIS happenings.
Boskage Trade News maintains a blog that also reports on export controls.
ExportLawBlog reports on a wide range of export news, including important BIS developments.
International Trade: Customs and Other Regulatory Agencies follows many agencies, from Fish and Wildlife Services to the BIS.
Read publications that report on the BIS
There are many publications that report on international trade controls. You should do some research to find out which offers the most relevant information for your business. Some cover trade controls for certain industries, while others focus on specific countries.
I recommend: The
Federation of International Trade Associations has a database of over 8,000 publications and resources that relate to international trade. You can sign up for its bi-weekly newsletter to get a sampling of the most useful.
Washington Trade Daily is a respected publication for the import/export industry.
The Export Practitioner is a trade journal offers analysis of regulations and compliance.
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