Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize U.S. export control regulations of dual-use items. Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) is an original co-sponsor.

The Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (H.R. 5040) will help ensure the U.S. maintains its technological advantage in science, engineering, manufacturing and other industries critical to our national and economic security. This bill represents the first real push to establish permanent export controls since the Cold War-era Export Administration Act of 1979 (EAA) lapsed in 2001.

“In recent years, the government in Beijing has increasingly forced U.S. companies to hand over sensitive technology as a cost of doing business in China,” Chairman Royce said. “These types of aggressive policies are undermining our national security and our economy.

“The Export Control Reform Act of 2018 will modernize our regulatory control system and make clear the U.S. will not tolerate this behavior. It will help our manufacturers and innovators maintain their competitive edge. And it will promote a transparent, multilateral process to keep sensitive technology out of the hands of countries that would use our technology against us.”   

Specifically, the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (H.R. 5040):

  • Repeals the lapsed EAA and replaces it with a modern, permanent statutory authority to better regulate U.S. dual-use and Department of Commerce-licensed military exports.
  • Requires that export controls ensure continued U.S. leadership in science, technology, engineering, manufacturing and other sectors.
  • Provides new authority to identify and appropriately control critical emerging technologies.
  • Supports U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote greater international coordination and cooperation on export controls.

A section-by-section summary of the bill is available HERE.

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