According to this Defense News article, the Obama administration will propose splitting US export enforcement authorities among various federal entities. They don't think administrative and criminal enforcement should be housed under one agency, as it is today. Instead, administrative issues will be handled by one "enforcement coordination agency," while criminal issues will be handled by another agency (possibly several). As you are probably aware, one of the Obama administration's goals is to overhaul current US export control regulations to make US companies more competitive in world trade. Eric Hirschhorn, undersecretary of commerce for industry and security, says the general consensus in Washington is that current export control laws are "too complicated, too redundant, and protect too much."

What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You

Export Control Basics for Brokers, Forwarders and 3PLs

Sandler, Travis & Rosbenberg, P.A. is hosting a webinar that will provide you with an overview of the various agencies in charge of controlling exports from the United States (BIS, OFAC, CBP, etc.). As you are well aware, export enforcement has been stepped up - with increasing penalties for those who don't follow the rules. The webinar will be on June 3, from 1-2 pm. It will be hosted by Peggy Chaplin Louie, who assists clients with both import and export regulation compliance and international shipping issues. Follow this link to register. (The cost is $75, but I think it's well worth it.)

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is hosting a two-day program that provides an in-depth examination of the EAR. Co-hosted by the Federation of International Trade Administration (FITA), the program will cover the information exporters need to know to comply with U.S. export control requirements on commercial goods. They will focus on what items and activities are subject to the EAR, steps to take to determine the export licensing requirements, how to determine your export control classification number (ECCN), when you can export or reexport without applying for a license, export clearance procedures and record keeping requirements, an overview of the Export Compliance Management Program (ECMP) concepts, and real life examples in applying this information. Click here for more information.