BIS Posts Q & As on Recent North Korea Presidential Announcement
07/09/08 02:36 PM Filed in: BIS | North Korea
On
July 8, 2008, the Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS) posted questions and answers on the recent
Presidential announcement with regard to the
rescission of North Korea from the State Sponsor of
Terrorism (SST) List (here). The
questions and answers provide exporters with
guidance as to what practical changes they can
expect as a result a result of the Executive
Order (which can be found here).
In essence, the Q&A states that the President's June 26, 2008 announcement triggered a 45-day congressional notification period prior to the formal rescission of the SST designation. The Administration will carry out the formal rescission only after the Six Parties (along with North Korea - China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States) reach agreement on acceptable verification and monitoring principles and protocols regarding North Korea's nuclear activities. Following such agreement, and barring further congressional action, BIS plans to publish an amendment to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) removing North Korea from Country Group E:1 and making other conforming changes to implement the rescission. Removing North Korea from Country Group E:1 will raise the threshold value for calculating the de minimis level of foreign goods destined to North Korea to 25% controlled U.S. content. Currently, as a member of Country Group E:1, the threshold value is 10%.
However, the President's announcement does not signal a change for U.S. exporters currently. BIS states that pursuant to Section 746.4 of the EAR, it will continue to require a license for the export or reexport to North Korea of items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99. BIS also stated that even after North Korea's SST designation is rescinded, certain export control requirements, in particular those related to North Korea's detonation of a nuclear device on October 9, 2006, proliferation activities, and human rights violations, will continue to apply on the basis of other laws and regulations, and in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718.
BIS also stated that its licensing policy for North Korea has not yet changed. Once the rescission takes effect, it will review applicable licensing policy. Currently, the licensing policy for North Korea is as follows:
In essence, the Q&A states that the President's June 26, 2008 announcement triggered a 45-day congressional notification period prior to the formal rescission of the SST designation. The Administration will carry out the formal rescission only after the Six Parties (along with North Korea - China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States) reach agreement on acceptable verification and monitoring principles and protocols regarding North Korea's nuclear activities. Following such agreement, and barring further congressional action, BIS plans to publish an amendment to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) removing North Korea from Country Group E:1 and making other conforming changes to implement the rescission. Removing North Korea from Country Group E:1 will raise the threshold value for calculating the de minimis level of foreign goods destined to North Korea to 25% controlled U.S. content. Currently, as a member of Country Group E:1, the threshold value is 10%.
However, the President's announcement does not signal a change for U.S. exporters currently. BIS states that pursuant to Section 746.4 of the EAR, it will continue to require a license for the export or reexport to North Korea of items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99. BIS also stated that even after North Korea's SST designation is rescinded, certain export control requirements, in particular those related to North Korea's detonation of a nuclear device on October 9, 2006, proliferation activities, and human rights violations, will continue to apply on the basis of other laws and regulations, and in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718.
BIS also stated that its licensing policy for North Korea has not yet changed. Once the rescission takes effect, it will review applicable licensing policy. Currently, the licensing policy for North Korea is as follows:
- The U.S. Government will generally approve applications to export or reexport: (a) Non-food, non-medical humanitarian items meeting subsistence needs and intended for the benefit of the North Korean people; and (b) Items in support of the United Nations and other humanitarian efforts.
- The U.S. Government will generally deny applications to export or reexport to North Korea: (a) Luxury goods (an illustrative list of luxury goods appears on the BIS website); (b) Arms and related materiel, and items controlled under the multilateral export control regimes; and (c) Items that could contribute to North Korea's nuclear-, ballistic missile-, or other weapons of mass destruction-related programs.
- The U.S. Government will review, on a case-by-case basis, applications to export and reexport all other items subject to the EAR, consistent with all applicable licensing policies set forth in the EAR