Washington, DC – On May 9, 2012, USISTF Executive Director Ann Liebschutz participated in a panel titled a “Conversation on Export Controls” hosted by the AIAA in the Rayburn House Office Building for industry and policy leaders. The panel—comprised of representatives of international aerospace corporations, leading research laboratories, and U.S. government agencies—focused on current International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and their impact, both perceived and actual, on the competitiveness of the U.S. commercial space industry. The general goals of export controls such as ITAR are to control access to dual use space technology. The panel also discussed the Departments of Defense and State Report to Congress on Section 1248 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which stimulated a robust discussion of how ITAR currently affects U.S. commercial space industry competitiveness. The panel was moderated by James D. Rendleman, Chair, AIAA Technical Committee on Legal Aspects of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The export controls currently applicable to the U.S. aerospace industry were designed in a Cold War context, when the United States was the primary innovator and exporter of aerospace technology. In 2012, however, numerous countries are developing their own civilian aerospace and aeronautical technologies.

USISTF Executive Director Ann Liebschutz said, “The objectives and end goals of ITAR are important and should not be diluted. We must achieve those goals while our laws and enforcement mechanisms keep pace with the global nature of today’s technology development.”

The U.S.-Israel Science & Technology Foundation (USISTF), is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded by a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor with a mission of strengthening the scientific and R&D relationship of the U.S. and Israel to promote economic growth through innovation. USISTF convenes U.S.-Israel scientific and industry conferences produces policy strategy and facilitates R&D framework programs that enable joint research activities.