In boost for AUKUS, US says Australia and UK export-controls comparable
WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department told the U.S. Congress on Thursday that Australia, Britain and the United States now have comparable export-control regimes, a significant step needed to facilitate technology sharing and allow the trilateral AUKUS defense pact to move ahead.
AUKUS, formed in 2021 to address shared worries about China’s growing power, is designed to allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines and other advanced weapons such as hypersonic missiles.
However, the sharing of closely guarded technology, which is governed by strict U.S. International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), has been a hurdle for cooperation.
The 2024 U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) required President Joe Biden to determine whether Australia and Britain have export control regimes “comparable to the United States” and thereby qualify for ITAR exemptions.
“Today, the Department of State submitted to the Congress a determination that Australia and UK export control systems are comparable to those of the United States and have implemented a reciprocal export exemption for U.S. entities,” the State Department said in a statement.
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Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/boost-aukus-us-says-australia-uk-export-controls-comparable-2024-08-15/