A Restriction on Trade and Security

In response to increasing fears about China as an emerging world power, the commercial export-control agency for the US has proposed new restrictions. Since World War II, the US relied on a multilateral system that controlled military commercial technology. Yet the US Bureau of Industry and Security has shifted to a bilateral approach, restricting the “sale, re-export or transfer” of 47 commercial commodity categories for potential military use in China. The restriction has already prompted other countries to design aircraft and other products without US parts to prevent problems. As a result, China obtains the equipment from other sources, and the US trade deficit continues to grow. Lawyer Donald Weadon urges that the US must eliminate uncertainty for overseas manufacturers by pursuing a multilateral approach on products with a high priority for security, and discontinue efforts to eliminate sales to a single country. – YaleGlobal