Exporting from the United States is a privilege, not a right. Like most countries, the United States has laws and regulations governing exports. In some cases, you need a license issued by an agency of the U.S. government, before you can export.

Exporting from the United States is a privilege, not a right.The scope of international trade impacted by U.S. export controls varies widely by country. Almost all products and technologies may be exported to Canada without a license. On the other hand, Cuba is subject to a virtual embargo.

Historically, export controls have been imposed for reasons of national security, foreign policy, and short supply, among others. The most important export control regimes today are:

  1. "Dual-use" products having both military and civilian applications are controlled under the Export Administration Act and Export Administration Regulations administered by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. This includes computers, electronics and telecommunications equipment and software, for example.
  2. "Defense Articles and Services" are controlled under the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms regulations administered by the Department of State’s Office of Defense Trade Controls. This includes not only guns and bombs, but also some products and technologies having civilian uses.
  3. All trade with certain pariah countries is controlled by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control under various laws and regulations imposing economic sanctions. Countries subject to economic sanctions include Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya and North Korea.

A number of other federal agencies play a consultative role with respect to formulation of export control policy and participate in the export licensing process. These include the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the Department of Energy, Defense Technology Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Security Agency.

For a comprehensive overview, please refer to United States Export Controls, 5th Edition, by William A. Root, John R. Liebman, and Roszel C. Thomsen, II.