The United States Regulations for Export Research Guide
1. Solomon Abady, J.D. Candidate, Nova Southeastern University.
2. Created: 02/06/09, Updated: 04/30/09
3. Contents:
a. Outline of Sections
4. General Overview
5. List of Key Abbreviations/Organizations Involved
6. Primary Resources
7. Dictionaries and Directories
8. Trade & Customs Statutes and Regulations
9. Treaties
10. United States Court of International Trade (Case Law)
11. Journals
12. Blogs
13. Multimedia
14. RSS Feeds
15. Tutorials
16. Research Guides
17. Sample Research Questions
18. Conclusion
19. Suggested Further Reading
4. Overview
a. This Pathfinder
i. The purpose of this pathfinder is to provide a clear and organized method for researchers to find the relevant regulations, journals, and other research information revolving around the exportation of goods and services across geographic borders. For example, a practitioner has a client who wants to transport goods from the United States to a buyer in a different country. This pathfinder will assist that practitioner in finding the relevant regulations and agencies controlling such matters. Finally, this pathfinder also details how to The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Code of Federal Regulations specifically Title 15 chapter VII, subchapter C, also known as Export Administration Regulations (EAR); The Department of State implementing and enforcing Title 22 Chapter I Subchapter M also known as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Additionally, one must be aware of Treasury Dept’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that oversees embargoed and sanctioned prohibited countries. Due to the EAR, ITAR, and OFAC being legal codes. Therefore, this pathfinder will guide you how to find the exact research needed for the numerous sections of export regulations.
b. The History of Export Controls
i. EAR
1. How were Export controls established? On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress convened in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the following December, Congress declared the importation of British goods to be illegal. Twelve months later the Congress outlawed the export of goods to Great Britain, thus establishing the first American export controls.
2. When was the EAR created? March 5, 1996.
3. What is the EAR? The Federal Register published a comprehensive database of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The database contains laws relating to the control of certain exports, reexports, and activities.
4. Where can I find a list of prohibited parties to the EAR? Prohibited Parties
ii. ITAR
1. What led to the establishment of the ITAR? The Arms Export Control Act of 1976 gives the President of the United States the authority to control the import and export of defense articles and defense services. That authority was delegated the Secretary of State by executive order, who led the efforts to create the ITAR regulations that are primarily administered by the Director of the Office of Munitions Control, Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, Department of State.
2. When was the ITAR enacted? June 30, 1976
3. What is the ITAR? ITAR regulations dictate that information and material pertaining to defense and military related technologies with the goal to advance national strategic objectives and U.S. foreign policy via the trade controls.
iii. OFAC
1. What led to the establishment of OFAC? Dating back prior to the War of 1812, Secretary of the Treasury Gallatin administered sanctions imposed against Great Britain for the harassment of American sailors. During the Civil War, Congress approved a law which prohibited transactions with the Confederacy, called for the forfeiture of goods involved in such transactions, and provided a licensing regime under rules and regulations administered by Treasury. OFAC is the successor to the Office of Foreign Funds Control (the ``FFC''), which was established at the advent of World War II following the German invasion of Norway in 1940.
2. When was OFAC enacted? December 1950, following the entry of China into the Korean War, when President Truman declared a national emergency and blocked all Chinese and North Korean assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
3. What is OFAC? The Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces economic sanctions programs primarily against countries and groups of individuals, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers. The sanctions can be either comprehensive or selective, using the blocking of assets and trade restrictions to accomplish foreign policy and national security goals.
5. List of Key Abbreviations/List of Organizations & Institutions Involved
a. EXIM – Export/Import Bank of the United States
b. FTC – Federal Trade Commission
c. FCSC- Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
d. CBP – Customs and Border Protection
e. ICC - International Chamber of Commerce
f. USTR – United States Trade Representative
g. USDOJ – United States Department of Justice
h. USITC – United States International Trade Commission
i. WTO – World Trade Organization
j. DOS – Department of State
k. BIS – Bureau of Industry and Security
l. DOC – Department of Commerce
m. DTSA – Defense Technology Security Administration
n. DOT – Department of Transportation
o. DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration
p. DSCA – Defense Security Cooperation Agency
q. DoHS – Department of Homeland Security
r. DOE – Department of Energy
s. NRC– Nuclear Regulatory Commission
t. DDTC – Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
6. Primary Resources
a. Primary Source: How to find the actual text
i. EAR
1. PRINT
a. These regulations can be found at library law schools, such as Nova Southeastern University.
b. These regulations can be purchased online via GPO.gov or Boskage.com.
2. ONLINE
a. Direct Link - EAR DATABASE
b. *LEXIS
i. Research> CFR – Code of Federal Regulations> TITLE 15 (COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE) - Chapter VII - Subchapter C
c. *WESTLAW
i. Westlaw Research> Code of Federal Regulations> Table of Contents TITLE 15 (COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE) - Chapter VII - Subchapter C
ii. ITAR
1. PRINT
a. These regulations can be found at library law schools, such as Nova Southeastern University.
b. These regulations can be purchased online via MOSIS.com or ESEB.RAYTHEON.com
2. ONLINE
a. Direct Link - ITAR
b. *LEXIS
i. ResearchCFR – Code of Federal RegulationsTITLE 22 (DEPARTMENT OF STATE) - Chapter I - Subchapter M
c. *WESTLAW
i. Westlaw ResearchCode of Federal Regulations> Table of ContentsTITLE 22 (DEPARTMENT OF STATE) - Chapter I - Subchapter M
iii. OFAC
1. ONLINE
a. LINKS
i. Direct - OFAC
ii. Country Sanctions –
1. Balkans Sanctions2. Belarus Sanctions
3. Burma Sanctions
4. Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Sanctions
5. Cuba Sanctions
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions
7. Iran Sanctions
8. Iraq Sanctions
9. Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions
10. North Korea Sanctions
11. Sudan Sanctions
12. Syria Sanctions
13. Zimbabwe Sanctions
a. INSTANTOFAC - A FREE advanced search algorithm available to search the OFAC SDN list without the need of expensive compliance software.
2. ONLINE PURCHASE
a. OFAC Analyzer - OFAC Compliance Program ensures that data scanned against the latest OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control) and other Relevant Government lists complies with the current regulations.
b. OFAC Compliance - Bridger offers a full suite of compliance software solutions developed to meet the many challenges organizations and institutions face when implementing an OFAC policy and procedure program.
7. Dictionaries and Directories
b. PRINT
i. Dictionary of International Trade – The industry standard. Every business has its own language, lexicon and lingo, and international trade is no exception. This book is the most respected and largest-selling dictionary of trade in the world. It is used by importers, exporters, bankers, shippers, logistics professionals, attorneys, economists and government officials in more than 100 countries worldwide.
ii. Dictionary of International Trade - A Basic Guide to Exporting is the US Department of Commerce's respected introduction to exporting. It is designed to help US firms learn the costs and risks associated with exporting and develop a strategy for success.
iii. Black’s Legal Dictionary
1. Black’s Law Dictionary, 8th Edition: ISBN-10: 0-314-15199-0
2. Available at most public libraries, enter your zip code to find library closest to your location: WORLDCAT
c. ONLINE
i. Free Online Business Dictionary - Most United States export terms are listed in this dictionary.
ii. Export Bureau Dictionary - ExportBureau.com was establishedto provide a link between manufacturers and importers around the world that was regionally independent and provides a dictionary for Export, Trade and Shipping Terms.
iii. Black’s Legal Dictionary
1. *Westlaw: Directory--Black's Law Dictionary, 8th Edition (BLACKS)
2. *Thomson West: http://www.blackslawdictionary.com/
iv. http://www.fdi.net/ - FDI.net is a unique web portal that offers free, on-demand country analysis and information on all things related to foreign direct investment in 175 countries. The site combines business and public resources with World Bank Group analysis to provide users with a single entry point for the full-spectrum of information needed to make a decision about investing in a foreign country.
v. http://www.miga.org/ - MIGA's mission is to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) into developing countries to help support economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve people's lives.
vi. http://www.foreign-trade.com/ - FOREIGN TRADE ON-LINE, is a leading global B2B trade portal, is a privately owned and operated business which helps provide companies around the world with the opportunity to expand their business beyond their own borders.
vii. http://www.importexporthelp.com/ - Website supplying hundreds of international business and import export resources that can help a company earn greater profits.
viii. http://www.exportcontrol.org/ - This site is dedicated as a resource for Export Control information.
8. Trade & Customs Statutes and Regulations
a. CFR Title 15 - Commerce and Foreign Trade
b. CFR Title 16 - Commercial Practices
c. CFR Title 46 - Shipping
d. U.S. Code, Title 15, Chapter 1 - Monopolies and Combinations in Restraint of Trade
e. U.S. Code, Title 15, Chapter 2 - Federal Trade Commission; Promotion of Export Trade and Prevention of Unfair Methods of Competition
f. U.S. Code, Title 18, Chapter 27 - Customs Crimes and Criminal Procedure
g. U.S. Code, Title 19 - Customs Duties
9. Treaties
a. NAFTA – The purpose of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is to establish a free-trade zone for Canada, Mexico and the United States. The agreement entered into force on January 1, 1994.
b. GATT/WTO - The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was an international organization that promoted international trade and the reduction of trade barriers from 1947 to 1994. The World Trade Organization (WTO), the successor organization of the GATT, was established following the eighth round of GATT negotiations (the Uruguay Round) in 1995.
i. GATT - Over 30,000 public documents and 300 publications of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) are accessible from this site. A very small number of WTO documents are also included - see WTO Documents Online for these documents. The GATT published close to 60,000 documents between 1947-1994. De-restriction of some 10,000 of these documents has not yet occurred; hence, public access to these is unavailable.
ii. WTO - This database provides access to the official documentation of the World Trade Organization, including the legal texts of the WTO agreements. The database contains WTO documentation from 1995 onwards and is updated daily. It also contains selected material for the period 1986-1994, principally Uruguay Round documents and a small number of GATT documents. There are currently over 100,000 documents in the database in the three official languages of the WTO.
iii. GATT to the WTO Research Guide (Georgetown Law Library)
c. CAFTA - The purpose of Central America Dominican Republic United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is to create a trade free-zone between the United States and Central America by eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers. After having passed in the U.S. Senate, CAFTA passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a narrow majority (217 to 215) on July 28, 2005. The seven members of CAFTA are: United States, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
10. United States Court of International Trade (Case Law)
a. Information - This is to provide information about the United States Court of International Trade and its role in the federal judicial system. Since the court serves an important judicial function and has significant responsibilities in international trade. Congress, with the Customs Courts Act of 1980, equipped the federal judicial system to deal effectively and efficiently with the increasingly complex problems arising from international trade litigation. In essence, the Act clarified and expanded the status, jurisdiction, and powers of the former United States Customs Court and changed the name of the court to the United States Court of International Trade. The new name more accurately describes the court's expanded jurisdiction and its increased judicial functions relating to international trade disputes.
i. Searching Slip Opinions:
1. Provides links a list of cases dealing with U.S. court decisions:
a. International Trade Court - Slip Opinions
ii. *LEXIS and WESTLAW
1. *LEXIS
a. Legal>Area of Law by Topic>International Trade>Cases>Interpreting US Law>US Customs Court Cases
b. Legal>Area of Law by Topic>International Trade>Cases>Interpreting US Laws>US Court of International Trade Cases
2. *Westlaw
a. United States Court of International Trade
11. Journals
a. The Journal of Commerce - Through its publications, Web sites, and data services, UBM Global Trade is the leading supplier of business information for people involved in transporting goods and commodities in the United States and internationally.
b. Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy - A venue for the exchange of ideas pertaining to the international commercial and legal environment. It publishes high quality scholarly research to stimulate dialogue and debate on both topics of current interest to the international community and longer-standing issues of international relations. To ensure the timely and widespread dissemination of research, the journal is published solely in an electronic (web based) format.
c. International Trade Reporter - BNA is the largest independent publisher of information and analysis products for professionals in business and government.