Expediting Export: MT Controlled License Exceptions

November 25, 2015 by Leave a comment

We often write in this space about various export license exceptions that can help distributors better service their customers–particularly customers in AOG situations when waiting for an export license approval simply isn’t an option.

In just the past couple weeks, we have had several members ask questions related to the export of avionics controlled for Missile Technology reasons (MT).  Generally, articles controlled for reason MT are not eligible for export license exceptions.  Part 740 (License Exceptions) of the Export Administration Regulations explains that “[y]ou may not use any License Exception if any one or more of the following apply: . . . The item is controlled for missile technology (MT) reasons . . . .” (15 C.F.R. § 740.2(a)(5)(i)).  Generally, then, it is not possible to use export license exceptions to export articles controlled for MT reasons; many businesses simply have a blanket prohibition against using license exceptions for MT articles to avoid running afoul of this restriction.  Obviously this is not compatible with AOG service.

However, the restriction on use of license exceptions for MT-controlled articles then goes on to carve out several specific ECCNs; exceptions to the restriction on exceptions, if you will.  It is this carve-out that can serve to benefit distributors dealing in navigation and avionics equipment.

After stating that items controlled for MT reasons are not eligible for any license exception, 15 C.F.R. § 740.2(a)(5)(i) goes on to offer the following allowances:

“the items described in ECCNs 6A008, 7A001, 7A002, 7A004, 7A101, 7A102, 7A103, 7A104, 7A105, 7B001, 7D001, 7D002, 7D003, 7D101, 7D102, 7E003, 7E101 or 9A515, may be exported as part of a spacecraft, manned aircraft, land vehicle or marine vehicle or in quantities appropriate for replacement parts for such applications under §740.9(a)(4) (License Exception TMP for kits consisting of replacement parts), §740.10 (License Exception RPL), §740.13 (License Exception TSU), or §740.15(b) (License Exception AVS for equipment and spare parts for permanent use on a vessel, aircraft or spacecraft).”

Obviously this is very useful for navigation equipment and avionics exporters.

A quick perusal of the ECCNs listed reveals that many of them control articles such as accelerometers, angular rate sensors, gyros, and nav instruments.

Note, however, that ECCN 7A003, dealing with certain inertial measurement units and systems, is NOT included in the carve out, and therefore not eligible for any export license exception.

License exceptions RPL and AVS are particularly valuable exceptions for the aviation industry, and we spend time discussing them in depth during ASA workshops. If you have determined your MT-controlled article fits one of the above-mentioned ECCNs, you should be sure you understand the requirements of each of those exceptions before you use them.  When you are sure of your ECCN and your use of the appropriate license exception, your company will be able to rapidly service your AOG customers’ needs.

Finally, always remember to consult an export compliance attorney if you have questions.

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Expediting Export: “600 Series” Articles and License Exception STA

July 8, 2015 by 1 Comment

We’ve previously written in this space about ways to take advantage of export license exceptions to more expeditiously serve you customers when exporting “600 Series” articles.  In this article, we’ll take a look at one very specific exception that can help you efficiently work around the license application process when you have a customer with consistent or regular need for certain parts.

License exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) authorizes exports to foreign nationals in lieu of an export license that would otherwise be required under the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Export Administration Regulations (EAR). We have occasionally heard from members that after certain license applications they have received communication from BIS stating that the export for which they sought a license was eligible for license exception STA and asking why the exporter had not elected to use STA.  We have not heard of anyone being told they should be using STA, and the licenses were typically issued; these inquiries are generally informational by BIS.

STA is a useful license exception for those exporters doing regular, predictable business with a specific customer; for example a customer that requires a dozen units on a monthly basis, for which an export license is required.  When each export shipment requires a license both the exporter and BIS must spend time and resources processing that application.  STA allows the exporter to legally bypass that delay.

The transition of many formerly ITAR-controlled articles to the new “600 Series” ECCNs has resulted in a corresponding shift in license application processing burden away from the DDTC (good news for exporters of ITAR-controlled articles, whose average application processing time continues to decline) and toward BIS, which has seen an increase in license application processing times, as more controlled articles fall within BIS’s regulatory sphere.  One way BIS is able to reduce processing times and relieve some of its own burden is to encourage (correct) use of license exceptions.  For regular and predictable exports STA is a good way to save time and reduce costs for both exporter and BIS, hence BIS’s outreach after applications that appear to be a good fit for use of STA.

STA is a valuable—but under-utilized—license exception.  This is because unlike a number of other exceptions it requires quite a bit of up-front planning and coordination with the customer. Because of this additional effort, we must first understand how STA works generally, and then the specifics that apply to “600 Series” articles.

The License Exception STA Process

As a threshold matter, the exporter seeking to use exception STA must ensure that the article is controlled only for a reason identified in an authorizing paragraph of the regulation.  Articles controlled for reasons National Security (NS), Chemical or Biological Weapons (CB), Nuclear Nonproliferation (NP), Regional Stability (RS), Crime Control (CC), or Significant Items (SI) are authorized for destinations in Country Group A:5.  Those articles controlled only for reason NS and not otherwise restricted by the ECCN are authorized to Country Group A:6.

Once the exporter has determined that the destination is eligible for license exception STA the exporter must satisfy a series of conditions.  First, it must provide to the consignee the ECCN of each discrete article that will be shipped under exception STA. This is a one-time requirement for each article and the ECCN does not need to be provided for subsequent shipments, assuming all information remains accurate.

Next, after providing the ECCNs to the consignee, but prior to shipping any articles, the exporter must obtain and keep in its records a written Consignee Statement. One statement may be used for multiple shipments, provided the items, parties, party names, item descriptions, and ECCNs are the same and remain correct. The exporter must retain a record of each shipment made under each particular Consignee Statement.  Don’t forget the paperwork!

15 C.F.R. § 740.20(d)(2) provides the specific text that must be included in each Consignee Statement.  Among other things, the Consignee Statement must identify the articles, ECCNs, and parties to the transactions, and include clauses acknowledging the restrictions and responsibilities of the parties. Each Consignee Statement should use the exact template language stated in the regulation.

Finally, the exporter must notify the consignee in writing (email and fax are permissible) for each shipment under license exception STA.  The notice must clearly identify the shipment and identify the specific items (or whole shipments) that are being shipped pursuant to STA.

Note that different rules apply under STA for software and technology releases.

“600 Series” Restrictions

Though valuable, license exception STA does entail some obvious additional effort.  Even further considerations arise when using STA for the export of “600 Series” ECCNs.  Additional restrictions make sense when we recall the”600 Series” articles are those articles that until very recently were controlled under the ITAR and therefore merit a greater level of control.

 First, STA may not be used when the articles are specifically identified by the ECCN as ineligible.  Second, a “600 Series” article may be exported to a non-governmental person in a group A:5 country only if the ultimate end user is the armed forces or other governmental agency of the country; “600 Series” articles may not ship to non-governmental end-users under STA. Third, STA may not be used to export certain “600 Series” end items, such as a completed aircraft under 9A610.a or Major Defense Equipment when the value to be exported exceeds $25 million.

Finally, in order to export “600 Series” items under STA, the purchaser, intermediate and ultimate consignees, and end user must previously have been approved on a license or other approval issued by the DDTC or a general correspondence approval from BIS. The exporter must also ensure language specific to “600 Series” articles appears on the prior Consignee Statement.

Whew!

License exception STA can be a very useful tool for companies that do regular business with a customer and have to repeatedly apply for an export license for the same articles.  Given the amount of preparation involved, STA is not very useful for one-off or only occasional shipments.  But those exporters with regular supply contracts to foreign governments (for example) may find STA a very efficient way to reliably service their customer (without risking license delays or the occasional government shutdown).

Although it cannot be used for every article, STA does allow the exporter to save significant time and money by eliminating the need to prepare a license application and the delay in waiting for approval.  It is also among the more complex and technical of the export license exceptions.  Because of the complexities involved, companies seeking to take advantage of license exception STA are advised to consult with an export attorney to ensure proper compliance.

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Expediting Export: License Exceptions and “600 Series” ECCNs.

December 22, 2014 by 2 Comments

We recently had a member ask about the applicability of export license exceptions to the new “600 Series” ECCNs.  Attendees of our workshops, and regular readers of this blog, know that we frequently recommend taking advantage of export license exceptions whenever possible.  Using such exceptions can save money and time, and are particularly important for AOG customers when time is of the essence and waiting for an export license is simply not an option.

As those familiar with export know, a particular article’s ECCN helps us determine when an export license will be required for export to certain countries.  The “600 Series” ECCNs have been created as part of the ongoing Export Control Reform initiative.  These ECCNs control those articles that formerly appeared on the USML and were therefore considered ITAR controlled.  Those ECCNs of most concern to us are ECCN 9A610 “Military aircraft and related commodities, other than those enumerated in 9A991.a” and 9A619 “Military gas turbine engines and related commodities.”  We will use “600 Series” in this post to refer to those two ECCNs.

This shift from State Department control (under the ITAR) to Commerce Department control has been a welcome change for exporters.  However, as the creation of the new “600 Series” ECCNs suggest, these transitioned articles, formerly controlled as defense articles under the ITAR,  warrant some different level of control than those ordinary dual-use parts that were already subject to Commerce Department control.  This makes intuitive sense, as these are military parts that warrant some enhanced level of control, but which do not provide a “critical military or intelligence advantage.”

Given that articles in the “600 Series” ECCNs now occupy a sort of middle ground—subject to the somewhat less-restrictive level of control of the Commerce Department, yet still warranting additional control due to their nature as military parts—we should expect the applicability of commonly used license exceptions to be subject to some limitations.

In our workshops we typically recommend the use three primary license exceptions: Civil End-Users (CIV), Servicing and Replacement of Parts and Equipment (RPL), and Aircraft, Vessels, and Spacecraft (AVS).  We will primarily focus on the applicability of these three exceptions.

The first exception, CIV, can be dispensed with quickly.  CIV is designated on the Commerce Control List (CCL) “600 Series” ECCNs as “CIV: N/A.”  License exception CIV applies to those articles controlled only for National Security (NS) reasons.  Because the articles under ECCNs 9A610 and 9A619 are military articles they are controlled for additional reasons, including Regional Stability (RS) and Missile Technology (MT).  License exception CIV is therefore not applicable to these “600 Series” ECCNs. Strike one.

Skipping over exception RPL briefly, exception AVS can also be dispensed of quickly. License exception AVS permits the export of equipment and spare parts for permanent use on an aircraft and exports to planes of U.S. or Canadian registry and U.S. or Canadian Airlines’ installations or agents.  However, the Export Administration Regulations specifically omit exception AVS as a permissible exception from its list of license exceptions applicable to the “600 Series.”  We can add license exception AVS to our list of exceptions unavailable for use with “600 Series” articles.  Strike two.

Down to our final commonly used license exception, we return to exception RPL.  License exception RPL permits export for the one-for-one replacement of parts, components, accessories and attachments as well as export for servicing and replacement of commodities that are defective or that an end user or ultimate consignee has found unacceptable.

In short, RPL works two ways.  The first way is that a part may be exported to replace a previously legally exported part.  The parts must be identical, and the core must be returned to the exporter or destroyed (and as a best practice proof of such destruction provided). The second way is a return of an article that is either defective or in need of servicing or repair (i.e., the part has been found “unacceptable”).  Upon servicing the part is then returned under exception RPL.

Luckily for us, license exception RPL is permissible for use with “600 Series” articles! Use of this exception can greatly increase an exporter’s ability to service its customer.

Such use is not without limitations though.  Recall again that “600 Series” ECCNs occupy a special in-between zone of export control.  Use of exception RPL is therefore limited with respect to certain countries.  No “600 Series” ECCN article may be exported under license exception RPL to any destination identified in Country Group D:5.  Country Group D:5 countries are those with which the U.S. maintains an arms embargo, and can be located on the Country Group List, Supplement 1 to 15 C.F.R. Part 740.  Although not a grand slam, RPL is a valuable license exception for “600 Series” articles.

Two other less-commonly used exceptions may also be available for export of “600 Series” articles.

The first is Shipments of Limited Value (LVS).  LVS is a list based exception like CIV and therefore appears on the CCL in the ECCN information.  Both 9A610 and 9A619 are limited to shipments valued at less than $1500. This low dollar value makes exception LVS of limited practical application to “600 Series” articles.  It is also forbidden to split or otherwise manipulate or structure a transaction to attempt to evade license requirements using LVS.  Those seeking to use exception LVS should consult their export compliance department.

The second less common exception is exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA). STA is best suited to those exporters with a regular and recurring shipment of articles requiring a license.  Due to the complexity of exception STA, we will be addressing that exception as it relates to “600 Series” ECCNs in a subsequent blog post.

Available license exceptions are clearly limited in the case of parts listed as ECCN 9A610 or 9A619.  Of the three primary exceptions—CIV, RPL, and AVS—only RPL is permissible, and even then with restrictions.  Knowing the available license exceptions, however, can both help you service your customer and ensure you remain compliant.

The Export Administration Regulations provide a handy cheat sheet listing the license exceptions generally applicable to “600 Series” articles at 15 C.F.R. § 740.2(a)(13).  Unless you are already familiar with the regulations, however, this reference should be used only as a starting point in your inquiry.  You should consult your export compliance officer or legal counsel to ensure full compliance with the regulations when using more complicated license exceptions.

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