Defense Export Handbook

The Defense Export Handbook serves as the second part of a tool-kit for defense exporters, particularly those who are new-to-market or new-to-export. This handbook is a follow-on to the 2016 Defense Market Report issued by the International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Department of Commerce in June 2016. It is a targeted compilation of current policies, procedures, and resources to help guide U.S. exporters.

To support exporters of defense and dual use products, this handbook seeks to streamline research and help U.S. exporters navigate the rules, policy changes, and regulations that are inherent in the defense transfer process and export control laws. This handbook briefly summarizes the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) defense transfer processes, provides export promotion and market opportunity resources to guide U.S. defense companies targeting export markets, and also provides an overview of export control regulations – all in one place.

This handbook pulls together key U.S. government resources to help companies ensure that their defense exports fall within U.S. Government foreign policy and national security objectives. It also addresses the latest Export Control Reform (ECR) updates and directs exporters to contacts who can address licensing, compliance and other related export control questions.

The lead author of this report is Laurie Hays, an international trade specialist on the Aerospace Team in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Ms. Hays can be reached at Laurie.Hays@trade.gov.