The Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury and other federal agencies administer a wide range of export control regulations, including rules governing re-exports of U.S. origin commodities, technical data, and software from third countries to other foreign destinations. In recent years these regulations have been frequently revised, generally resulting in broadly reduced controls on exports to the former Soviet Bloc countries while increasing emphasis on controls of items potentially related to the production or deployment of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and missile technologies. We advise foreign and domestic clients on these controls and assist them in obtaining necessary licenses and rulings from the appropriate agencies. We also represent companies and individuals faced with enforcement proceedings, and assist companies and trade associations to provide effective input to the public policy-making process both at the legislative and administrative levels. We frequently counsel clients concerning the application of various economic sanctions programs, administered primarily by the Departments of the Treasury, State, and Commerce, to the activities of U.S. and foreign companies.
Arms embargoes target a number of additional countries.
In addition to counseling, we have obtained numerous licenses or other authorizations for transactions covered by sanctions regulations, and represented clients subject to civil and criminal enforcement proceedings arising under these rules. Specific Experience Classification and Licensing. We provide initial evaluations of new or existing products or technologies to determine which agencies may have jurisdiction to regulate their export or transfer of related technology. We have successfully used various agency advisory opinion procedures to obtain favorable licensing treatment from regulatory agencies. We have frequently arranged meetings with policy or technical staff at appropriate agencies to discuss license applications and assist in arranging mutually satisfactory conditions or provisos.