Members of AMCHAM had an opportunity to interact with Ms. Thea D. Rozman Kendler, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce on April 27th in New Delhi (hybrid mode). Mr. Salil Gupte, Immediate Past Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India hosted the group and welcomed the Assistant Secretary and her colleagues from Washington DC. He gave a brief overview on the broad understanding of the role of most commercial items, often referred to as ‘dual-use’ items i.e. goods, software and technology that can be used for both civilian and military applications and how more clarity on the rules surrounding these items would be appreciated.

Around 20+ members participated in this roundtable to hear Assistant Secretary Kendler’s views on the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce’s role in controlling the export of dual-use and military items for national security and foreign policy reasons and to analyze the impact of export controls, licence exceptions, Strategic Trade Authorization, its benefits, licence applications and methods to support the U.S. defense industrial base. The framework of the U.S.-India Strategic Trade Dialogue and its role in addressing export controls, exploring ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitation of technology transfers, was discussed. Mr. Alexander Lopes, Director, Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance (NPTC), Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, took the members through a presentation on ‘600 Series Overview’ covering U.S. export control lists, moving from International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR) to Export Administration Regulations (EAR) of items. Members received clarity regarding U.S. export controls and technology transfer processes to pursue independent and stronger commercial and defense ties, and were encouraged to route further questions through AMCHAM.