It’s going to get a lot easier to export some firearms from the US due to a new Trump administration rule – By Amanda Macias (CNBC) / Jan 23 2020
Key Points
- The movement in jurisdiction of certain firearms sales from the State Department to Commerce Department means U.S. manufacturers will have fewer registration requirements in order to obtain an export license.
- The long-delayed rule change, which began under the Obama administration, is intended to lower costs for U.S. firearms makers such as American Outdoor Brands Corp. and Sturm, Ruger and Co.
- In May 2018, Trump formally proposed streamlining the process for exporting American firearms.
WASHINGTON — In a move aimed at boosting the sale of U.S. firearms and ammunition abroad, the Trump administration has eased regulations on some commercial firearms exports.
American manufacturers will have fewer registration requirements in order to obtain an export license, as the State Department moved jurisdiction of certain firearms sales to the Commerce Department. The change, announced last week, was entered into the Federal Register on Thursday. It will be effective March 9.
The long-delayed rule change, which began under the Obama administration, is intended to lower costs for U.S. gun-makers such as American Outdoor Brands Corp. and Sturm, Ruger and Co., while refocusing regulatory attention on weapons sales that could pose national security risks.
For example, under the Arms Export Control Act, the State Department must disclose any commercial arms sale worth $1 million or more to Congress for review. The Commerce Department has no such requirement.
What’s more, the State Department requires an annual fee from companies in the industry, whereas Commerce does not require such a fee.
“Exports of firearms and related items that do not perform an inherently military function or provide the United States with a critical military or intelligence advantage – including many articles that are widely available in U.S. retail outlets – will move to the Commerce Department’s export licensing controls,” assistant secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC.
The move to shift commercial gun export licenses to the Commerce Department was nearly complete under the Obama administration when a gunman opened fire and killed 26 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in late 2012. While the proposal is unrelated to domestic gun control, the Obama administration dropped the change.
Continue to article: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/23/gun-exports-get-easier-due-to-trump-administration-rule-change.html
