Security and Strategic Trade Management Academy

Globalization, the rise of transnational terrorism, and ever-advancing tactics among proliferators have given impetus to international action aimed at making trade more secure without impeding a vibrant global marketplace. Transparency about national export and import control laws and procedures is the first step in this direction. Harmonizing concepts and practices across countries is the crucial second step. These cornerstones were the rationale for UN Security Council Resolution 1540 — and for CITS to begin offering comprehensive training on international strategic trade controls through the CITS Security & Strategic Trade Management Academy.

The registration form for the next session is available online.

Content of the Academy

The SSTM Academy provides a comprehensive overview of strategic trade control concepts, issues, and standards from an international perspective. Unlike other fora on this topic, which focus exclusively on the United States or one particular country’s strategic trade control regulations, CITS Academy offers a comparative perspective that allows participants to understand the range of “how to” options or tools available to them for implementing such controls. Participants leave with a truly global and hands-on understanding of how to regulate trade in strategic (dual-use) items. The Center for International Trade and Security is a university-based alliance of analysts, experts, faculty, and students dedicated to the pursuit of research and outreach that address the dangers implicit in strategic trade and the risks to security and economy posed by inappropriate trade control systems. CITS has over twenty years of experience conducting research and training in this issue-area internationally and is today widely recognized as the source of global expertise in its field.

Location and Timing

All SSTM Academy sessions are held in Athens, Georgia (USA), in and around the UGA campus, close to its historic and vibrant downtown. We offer two SSTM Academy sessions each year: spring and autumn. Spring session takes place during March-April, and autumn session takes place during September-October. Lectures and activities are held at various locations on and off campus, to provide participants a flavor of UGA and Athens facilities. Attendees stay at the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.

Lesson Structure

Each SSTM Academy session consists of two week-long modules that can be taken in sequence or at different times. Week 1 focuses on the international and national context of strategic trade controls. This module is offered in both sessions. Topics include: impact of globalization on strategic trade; new security threats to states and businesses; international nonproliferation treaties (UNSCR 1540, NPT, CWC, BWC, IAEA); multilateral strategic trade control regimes (NSG, AG, MTCR, WA); concepts such as catch-all, intangible technology transfers, and deemed exports; case studies of dual-use controls in various countries (U.S., EU, Russia, India, China, etc.)

Week 2 focuses on licensing, implementation, and enforcement. Topics include: impact of globalization on strategic trade; end-use and end-user review methods; commodity identification; industry outreach and compliance issues; and national and multilateral efforts to enforce dual-use regulations.

Required Readings

We strongly recommend that participants familiarize themselves with the following texts before they come to the Academy:

• UNSC Resolution 1540 and its subsequent revisions
• Their country’s National Report(s) to the 1540 Committee
• Their country’s submission(s) to the 1540 Legislative Database
• Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)

Who should Attend?

CITS has designed its Security & Strategic Trade Management Academy to help government officials and industry representatives understand today’s dynamic and complex international regulatory environment for dual-use trade, and to address its most significant challenges head on. The Academy helps prepare officials for the challenges of developing, implementing and enforcing policies and procedures that fulfill national obligations under UNSC Resolution 1540 and meet international export control standards. States with developed strategic trade control systems can train or re-train their staff on the international developments in this issue-area as well as fulfill their mandate for assistance by sponsoring officials from developing countries. States with less developed systems can utilize the Academy experience to train the officials responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing strategic trade controls, as well as train their core staff responsible for reporting to the 1540 Committee. Delegates understand the policies and practices of several other countries where their companies do business as suppliers or importers, or where they have joint ventures, subsidiaries, or partnerships. For more information, see the brochure. The registration form (PDF) is available online, and should be submitted to Christopher Tucker, the program coordinator.

Instructors and Speakers

Speakers at the Academy come from a variety of academic, policy, and business backgrounds, and all are recognized experts with years of experience in varied aspects of national and international strategic trade controls. Primary CITS faculty involved in teaching at the Academy include: Dr. Igor Khripunov, Dr. Seema Gahlaut, Dr. Scott Jones, Dr. Dmitriy Nikonov, Dr. Anupam Srivastava, Ms. Anne Charlotte Merrell-Wetterwik, and Mr. Christopher Tucker. Past speakers have also included representatives from U.S. government agencies (Department of Energy, Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Immigration Service, Bureau of Industry and Security (Department of Commerce), and Department of Defense) as well as inter-governmental organizations (IAEA, 1540 Experts, UNODC, UNODA). We also draw upon leading practitioners from multinational companies such as GE, DHL, ITT, NGC, GM, TI and others.

The SSTMA Experience

We strive to keep the Academy’s sessions limited to forty (40) participants to ensure that seminars are at the same time highly interactive and personally enriching. In addition to lectures, participants take part in simulations, quizzes, licensing assignments and scenarios. Chatham House rules for speakers and participants provide numerous opportunities to ask frank questions and to share ideas and experiences. A relaxed setting, group assignments, informal receptions, and organized excursions to area attractions during the weekends allow ample opportunity to network with others in the field.

Chatham House Rule

Chatham House rules require that all persons at a gathering participate in their individual capacity - not as representatives of their organizations. Anything said at the gathering is off-the-record and, therefore, cannot be cited in a public document either as personal or official position.

Costs

Tuition: $2,700/week if paid by the registration deadline (includes course packet, readings, and instructional materials). Tuition increases after the deadline. All participants - whether paying by themselves or sponsored by a government or company - must submit a completed registration form. Each Week of the Academy earns a Certificate for the participants. All costs associated with lodging and meals are borne separately by participants. CITS has negotiated reduced rates with Athens-area hotels for participant bookings made on or before the logistics deadline. Rates and availability may be affected by conventions, conferences, and UGA football games in Athens. More information is available in the logistics document