International Trade Law News

It is not too late to register for the inaugural U.S.-Israel High Technology Forum (HTF) that will be held in Arlington, Virginia on September 9, 2008. The HTF, which is being co-sponsored by Bureau of Industry and Security and National Defense Industrial Association, will feature a number of useful presentations to technology companies, including an update on U.S. and Israeli export controls.

In addition to presentations by senior BIS and Israeli Government officials, the program will feature a keynote speech by former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

The HTF was jointly formed in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor. The HTF is designed to facilitate secure bilateral high technology trade and investment by providing a forum to discuss challenges and opportunities related to technology development, investment, and trade.

The agenda and brochure for this program can be found here (pdf). The link to the registration page on NDIA's website can be found here. Early bird registration ends on September 5th.

Labels: BIS, Export Controls, Israel

The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute has reported that Israel's Customs and VAT Directorate has announced it will implement "a new and strengthened export control system" on July 15, 2008. The site reports that:

The new system is based on the recognition that effective export control is needed to combat the proliferation of systems and technologies which can be used by adversaries to threaten the security of the free world.

The present Israeli export control system does not effectively meet Israel's national and economic security needs.

Over the last few years the Customs Directorate as well as other governmental bodies identified numerous instances of inefficiency and ineffectiveness in Israel's export control system, including poor strategic management, insufficient interagency Co-ordination, shortages of manpower, short-term fixes for long-term problems, and inadequate information systems.

In order to address these shortcomings, and at the same time making the necessary response to the challenges of globalization in the 21st century, a decision was made to set up an entirely new and highly effective export control system.

It appears that this article is referring to a new dual-use export control regime in Israel. As previously reported, Israel enacted a new Defense Export Controls law that went into effect on December 31, 2007. The unofficial English translation of Israel's Defense Export Control law can be found here.

International Trade Law News will publish additional details on Israel's new dual-use export control system once it is available.

Labels: Export Controls, Israel

Today the FBI arrested a former employee of the U.S. Army’s Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center in New Jersey for disclosing classified documents to the Government of Israel and conspiring to act as an agent of the Government of Israel. According to the Justice Department the classified documents contained information concerning nuclear weaponry, F-15 fighter jets and the U.S. Patriot missile air defense system.

Labels: Israel

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced that the United States and Israel have agreed to launch the U.S.-Israel High Technology Forum (HTF). The HTF is an Under Secretary-level bilateral dialogue to address and facilitate high technology trade, investment and related security issues between the two countries.

The HTF was proposed by Mario Mancuso, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, to senior officials of the Israeli Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Labor during his recent trip to Israel. In addition to the meetings with government officials, Secretary Mancuso met with Israeli business leaders during his trip.

The HTF is the first step in BIS's new effort to accelerate engagement with countries having the most dynamic and strategic technology markets.

Labels: BIS, Israel

Export controls were on the agenda of yesterday's ComDef 2007 Conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The panelists at the conference included Beth McCormick, Acting Director of the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA); Pierre Chao, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Jeremiah Gertler, Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association; Andrew Radcliffe, Counselor at the British Embassy; and Brigadier General Mirco Zuliani, Defense Cooperation Attache of the Embassy of Italy.

Reuters reports that Ms. McCormick told the audience that Israel has greatly improved its export controls laws on technology. The article states that that Ms. McCormick also said that Israel's export controls system would "meet any international standards" and that she has "a very high level of confidence" in the effectiveness of the export-control process now in place among Israel's ministries of defense, foreign affairs and industry. She also welcomed new laws that impose substantial penalties for violations of regulations. Israel recently passed a new export control law that is intended to strengthen Israel's existing export control regime.

With respect to prospects for export control reform in the U.S., Defense News reports that the panelists indicated "that the atmosphere for changing U.S. regulations governing arms exports has never been better . . . but the time to accomplish reforms may be short." The article quotes Mr. Gertler as saying that “the administration has welcomed suggestions for change” and there is “there is openness to reform” at various levels of the U.S. Government. He also said that Congress is “now is more willing than at any time in my memory” to consider export control reforms. However, Mr. Chao warned that export control reform in Washington, DC "may have a limited lifespan" due to the upcoming elections.

Labels: Export Controls, Israel

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced on Friday that Mario Mancuso, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, will be in Israel this week to participate in meetings with senior Israeli government officials and business leaders to discuss dual-use export control cooperation, high-technology trade and investment issues.

During his trip to Israel, Under Secretary Mancuso will meet with officials from Israel's Ministries of Industry, Trade and Labor, Defense and Foreign Affairs. He will also meet with Israeli and U.S. business leaders to discuss ways to promote secure high technology trade and investment.

Israel recently passed a new export control law that is intended to strengthen Israel's existing export control regime.

The trip to Israel promises to be the first of Undersecretary Mancuso's visits to key countries in order to elevate the U.S. level of engagement on dual-use export controls and high-technology trade and investment.

Labels: BIS, Israel

DefenseNews.com has reported that Israel’s parliament recently passed a new export control law that will "significantly" strengthen Israel's existing export control regime. The article states that "in addition to traditional defense exports, the law covers dual-use items as well as intellectual property and other intangible, so-called deemed exports." The new law also authorizes Israel’s Ministry of Defense Export Control Division (DECD) to levy significant fines and other penalties on exporters suspected of violating provisions of the new law. Israel's new export control law is supposed to go into effect at the "end of the year".

Labels: Export Controls, Israel