On November 4, 2016, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 160810723-6723-01] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement changes in controls on arms and related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. BIS also updates the EAR to recognize the accession of India as a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) adopted in 2016 terminated arms embargoes against Côte d’Ivoire (UNSCR 2283) and Liberia (UNSCR 2288). The rule removes the United Nations Embargo (UN) controls on Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia by removing those countries from the names of UNSC arms embargoed countries in §746.1(b) and from Country Group D:5 in Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR.
BIS is removing U.S. arms embargo-related controls on Sri Lanka to reflect the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. On May 4, 2016, DDTC announced that it would begin reviewing license applications for Sri Lanka on a case-by-case basis. Accordingly, this rule removes Sri Lanka from Country Group D:5 in Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR. on May 23, 2016, in furtherance of deepening and broadening ties between the United States and Vietnam since the normalization of diplomatic relations. Accordingly, BIS removes Vietnam from Country Group D:5 in Supplement No. 1 to part 740 the EAR.
On June 27, 2016, India acceded to the MTCR as the 35th member. BIS formally recognizes India’s status as a member of MTCR by removing the reference to India as only an “MTCR adherent” from paragraph (d) of § 742.5 of the EAR.
The revisions were effective on publication
