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Since the release of the recent Export Control Reform changes to USML Category VIII (Aircraft and Related Articles) under the ITAR, a lot of companies are wondering how the changes affect them. While it may seem that mid-October is a long time away, there are a lot of tasks companies should be considering now … before the rules become final.

The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has launched two new, online tools to help manufacturers and exporters begin to apply some of the recent changes under the export control reform initiative. These tools can be useful as your company prepares for the final rules to take effect this October.

Last week, DDTC released a proposed charging letter and subsequent consent agreement, alleging 125 charges of ITAR violations against Raytheon Company and its subsidiaries. Here are four key lessons for export compliance officers and corporate counsel who are interested in avoiding similar ITAR compliance problems for their companies.

Last week, President Obama’s Export Control Reform (ECR) efforts took a big step forward with a final published rule that, once implemented, will begin moving items and technologies from ITAR to EAR controls. The first categories of USML items affected by this rule are: Category VIII (Aircraft and Related Articles), Category XVII (Classified Articles), and XII (Articles, Technical Data and Defense Services Not Elsewhere Enumerated).

A former employee of L-3 Communications’ Space and Navigation Division was recently sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for exporting U.S. technology to China. Sixing Liu, 49, (aka “Steve Liu”) of Flanders, New Jersey, was convicted on nine counts, which range from lying to federal agents to six counts of International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) violations.