International Trade Law News

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has indicated that it will wait until the next session of Congress before considering the Defense Trade Cooperation treaties with the U.K. and Australia that were signed in 2007.

The Aerospace Industries Association reacted to this news by issuing the following statement:

We are very disappointed that Congress has deferred approval of the U.S.-UK and U.S.-Australian Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties. We had been optimistic that they would be approved and signed by the president this session, despite the press of last minute business acing the Senate. Even with this setback, we are encouraged by progress this year in export control modernization. The administration's package of proposals released in January, along with the rule clarifying export control treatment for civil aircraft components in August, are significant steps forward in achieving a system that is predictable, efficient and transparent. It is critical to our nation's security and economic prosperity to continue with modernization efforts in the next administration and Congress, to include passage and implementing these treaties.

The full text of the U.S.-U.K. Defense Trade Cooperation treaty can be found here. The full text of the U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation treaty can be found here. The implementing arrangements for these treaties that were signed earlier this year can be found here (U.K) and here (Australia).

Labels: Australia, DDTC, United Kingdom