Strategic Trade Controls
Evaluating National Systems
For more than a decade, CITS has been a recognized leader in the field of strategic trade control analysis, having conducted assessments of national strategic trade control systems in over 80 countries.
Legislative Outreach
Most of the items needed to produce weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are dual-use in nature; they have both a peaceful application as well as a military or WMD application. These items are becoming more widely available on international markets as a result of globalization. Companies that produce and export these sensitive items are a critical, but often overlooked, player in global efforts to curb proliferation. The Center is working to promote strengthened corporate security standards and to encourage corporations to exercise greater oversight over exports of strategic technologies. The Center is currently investigating the role of exporters in monitoring and screening end-users and fulfilling nonproliferation obligations. The Center is also engaged in educating strategic exporters in key countries about strategic trade control requirements and related issues (e.g., WCO SAFE). Much of the Center's outreach is currently focused on working with exporters in China, India and other expanding Asian economies.
Project Highlight: CARICOM
Industry Compliance
Most of the items needed to produce weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are dual-use in nature; they have both a peaceful application as well as a military or WMD application. These items are becoming more widely available on international markets as a result of globalization. Companies that produce and export these sensitive items are a critical, but often overlooked, player in global efforts to curb proliferation. The Center is working to promote strengthened corporate security standards and to encourage corporations to exercise greater oversight over exports of strategic technologies. The Center is currently investigating the role of exporters in monitoring and screening end-users and fulfilling nonproliferation obligations. The Center is also engaged in educating strategic exporters in key countries about strategic trade control requirements and related issues (e.g., WCO SAFE). Much of the Center's outreach is currently focused on working with exporters in China, India and other expanding Asian economies.
Project Highlight: Coalition for Excellence in Export Compliance (CEEC)
Multilateral Strategic Trade Control Regimes
CITS conducts policy research and organizes forums aimed at strengthening international institutions and cooperation on strategic trade controls. The Center has issued several major reports that identify the practical limitations of and offer recommendations on modernizing the existing multilateral export control regimes. Center researchers continue to conduct policy research that will facilitate reform and strengthening of international export control norms.
International Export Control Association
The Center launched an International Export Control Association in 2006. The Association, guided by a charter, is comprised of non-government experts and groups that share an interest in strengthening export controls and provide a forum for centers and experts to pool their expertise. Approximately 40 Participants from 19 different states attended the first inaugural conference, representing a wide range of different institutions and organizations.