Commonly Asked Questions on the Missile Technology Control Regime Archive Site for State Department information prior to January 20, 2001. This site is not updated. National export licensing measures on these technologies make the task of countries seeking to achieve capability to acquire and produce unmanned WMD means of delivery much more difficult. As a result, many countries, including all MTCR partners, have chosen to voluntarily introduce export licensing measures on ballistic missiles and other unmanned air vehicle delivery systems or related equipment, material and technology. The group was originally established in 1987 and the number of partners has increased steadily to a present total of twenty-nine countries.
Partners have equal standing in the regime.
All MTCR decisions are taken by consensus. The MTCR does not take export licensing decisions as a group. Rather, individual partners are responsible for implementing the guidelines and annex on the basis of sovereign national discretion and in accordance with national legislation and practice. Partners regularly exchange information about relevant national export licensing issues in the context of the regime's overall aims. The MTCR is the only multilateral arrangement dealing with ballistic and cruise missile and other WMD delivery vehicle systems or related equipment, material and technology.