BIS Loosens License Review Policy on Some Drones

The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security loosened its license review policy for exports of certain drones controlled under export administration regulations. After similar action by the State Department in July (see 2007280006), this imposes case-by-case license review on certain unmanned aerial systems (UASs) rather than presumption of denial. The U.S. “remains committed to the goals” of the multilateral missile technology control regime, in which the drones are still controlled under a “strong presumption of denial,” but “rapid advances” in drone technology and “growing commercial uses” for UAS warrant loosened export restrictions, BIS ruled in Tuesday's Federal Register.