The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls updated DTrade DSP forms (i.e., DSP-5, -61, and -73), DSP-85 (a fillable PDF form), and the Common Schema to comply with Export Control Reform changes to the U.S. Munitions List and Commerce Control List (here). Through ECR, the Obama administration is transferring controls from State to the Commerce Department for many goods previously on the USML. From Dec. 30 forward, DTrade users will have to use version 8.5 for the DSP-5 and -61, version 8.6 for the DSP-73, version 3.0 for the DSP-85, and version 7.4 for the Common Schema to submit license applications for license applications submissions. Earlier versions will be rejected on and after that date. DTrade also made a small change on Dec. 30 to USML Category XI (Military Electronics) submission requirements. State is increasing some detail of the controls for that category, and DTrade users need to make sure they file correctly or submissions may be “Returned Without Action.”

The State Department relaxed some Iranian sanctions in line with the Joint Plan of Action, a pact brokered between the U.S., several allies and Iran, and clarified some guidelines for the sanctions relief (here). The JPOA is temporary, and if all sides do not come together to seal a long-term deal in the coming months, the relief will expire on July 1. As part of the new Dec. 29 guidelines, State is still sanctioning non-U.S. persons transactions for Iranian petrochemical exports if those transactions involve the following companies:

The State Department banned U.S. export licenses and U.S. government trade authorizations, including procurement, for dealings with a wide range of individuals, foreign government entities and international companies over proliferation violations. The ban complies with the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act. State is also suspending existing licenses for trade with the following entities:

The State Department made minor revisions to the Export Control Reform rule on military electronics and associated equipment to clarify language and provide conforming updates (here). The final rule prepares for implementation a final rule issued July 1 that transfers some military electric controls from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List (see 14070104), effective Dec. 30. Commerce also made clarifying revisions to the rule in recent days (see 1412220012). Among other corrections, the Dec. 27 final rule replaces the term “Shippers Export Declaration” with the term “Electronic Export Information.” A reference to another obsolete term, “Direct Shipment Verification Program” is also removed.

The State Department designated Saudi national Ibrahim al-Rubaysh (here), along with a slew of aliases, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, as well as the Egyptian militant group Ajnad Misr (here). State accuses al-Rubaysh of being an al-Qa'ida leader in the Arabian Peninsula. State also accuses Ajnad Misr, which it describes as a violent extremist group, of orchestrating attacks against the Egyptian government and civilians (here). The designation includes prohibitions against knowingly providing, attempting or conspiring to provide material support or resources or engaging in transactions with the individual. The designations also freeze all property and interests of the entity in the U.S. or in the control of U.S. citizens.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is upgrading the DTrade DSP forms (i.e., DSP-5, -61, and -73), DSP-85 (a fillable PDF form), and the Common Schema to meet the requirements of Export Control Reform, particularly for changes made to U.S. Munitions List Categories VIII (aircraft and associated equipment), XI (military electronics), XV (spacecraft systems and associated equipment) and XIX (gas turbine engines and associated equipment) (here). DTrade will have to start using by Dec. 30 version 8.5 for the DSP-5 and -61, version 8.6 for the DSP-73, version 3.0 for the DSP-85, and version 7.4 for the Common Schema to submit license applications (here).

The State Department proposed on Dec. 11 an extension of a U.S.-Nicaragua pact that restricts the import of Nicaraguan archaeological material from pre-Hispanic cultures into the U.S. market. The Nicaraguan government also wants an extension of the agreement, which has been in effect since 2000 (here). Articles targeted through the pact include stone statues, small greenstone objects and pierced shell beads, among others, mostly dating from 8000 B.C. to 1550 A.D.

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued the following name change notifications on Dec. 4:

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued the following name change notifications in recent days:

The State Department issued a correction to a final rule that transfers goods from U.S. Munitions List Category XV (Spacecraft Systems and Associated Equipment) to the Commerce Control List (here). The final rule makes clarifications and minor changes to the initial final rule, released in May, and the transfers are effective on Nov. 10 (see 14051224). This final rules also edges the Obama administration further towards completing the transfer of goods on all 21 USML categories (see 1411040012).