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Published by the Federation of American Scientists Fund No.
48 (August 2002)
The Commerce Department recently changed the name of the office in charge of controlling dual-use exports (goods with both civilian and military use). Previously called the Bureau of Export Administration, the office now has a more telling title, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In addition to making a catchy pun, the new name may reflect the relative weight the Department places on export promotion versus national security protection: industry's needs are served first, U.S. security comes second.
The new name also underscores an old problem with dual-use controls at Commerce _ the fox is guarding the henhouse. The same office that is supposed to control exports is also promoting them. The Bureau's press release on the name change boasts that it "spearheads the Department of Commerce's efforts in defense trade advocacy and monitors the health of the U.S. defense-industrial base."
Export promotion is mainly done through BIS's Defense Trade Advocacy Program, which according to their web site, can "generate high-level, government-to-government advocacy on behalf of U.S. firms," helping them to "succeed in today's highly competitive global defense market." The site proudly states that the program has "successfully supported approximately $22 billion in U.S. exports since 1994." No similar gloating is done about preventing dangerous exports.
