US May Remove Export Controls For Goods With Military Applications

Bloomberg News (Drajem) - "The U.S. may remove restrictions on exports of goods with potential military applications when such technologies are already available worldwide, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said." Locke told a meeting of the U.S.-China Business Council, "We have too many controls on items readily available around the world. ... For us to restrict companies from sending those around the world, does it hurt us?" The rules "may have cut exports by as much as $100 billion, according to an estimate from the NAM. Allowing the sale of products that are already manufactured in other nations would help U.S. makers of software, machine tools and basic encryption technology," Catherine Robinson, associate director for trade at the NAM said. Hat Tip: NAM