The State Department revised the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to make subtle changes in its control language involving transactions with Vietnam (here). State added to the ITAR the following language: “For non-lethal defense end-items, no distinction will be made between Vietnam’s existing and new inventory.” ITAR restricts trade in exports and imports with Vietnam in defense articles and defense services (here).

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will shut down use of its external systems, which include DTrade, EFS, Mary, and Ellie from Nov. 7 at 6:00 p.m. for a maintenance outage (here). DTAS Online will also be down, but that, as well as the external systems will be available for use by 6:00 a.m. By Nov. 10, DTrade users must upgrade software to version 8.4 for the DSP-5, -61, and -74, version 8.3 for the DSP-6, and -62, and version 8.5 for the DSP-73. DTrade users must also upgrade to version 4.3 to submit the DS2032, and users should update the Common Schema software to version 7.3.

The Obama administration’s Export Control Reform has reduced license volumes by 64 percent for the 13 U.S. Munitions List categories with implemented ECR revisions, said the State Department on Nov. 3 (here). The administration recently marked a year in effect for the ECR, and the effort is proceeding apace, said the State Department on Nov. 3. The Commerce and State departments first transferred control of some dual-use aircraft goods from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List on Oct. 15, 2013 (see 13101711). The agencies have so far finalized rules to transfer goods under 15 of the 21 USML categories, but two of those revisions still need to be implemented. The administration is also edging closer in revising the remaining six categories, said State. The license reductions lead “to more flexible licensing authorizations for the export of less sensitive items to allies and partners, while increasing the number of U.S. enforcement officials available to safeguard against illicit attempts to procure sensitive defense technologies,” the agency said.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, after consulting with the Treasury Department, is keeping in place Foreign Terrorist Organization designations for the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (here), a Spanish secessionist group, and the National Liberation Army (here), a Colombian guerrilla group. The designations include prohibitions against knowingly providing, attempting or conspiring to provide material support or resources or engaging in transactions with this entity. 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 issued the following name change notification on Oct. 29:

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued the following name change notifications on Oct. 24:

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued the following name and address change notifications between Oct. 14-20:

The State Department slapped a Global Terrorist label on five individuals over involvement in militant activities in Pakistan and other places worldwide. Hakimullah Mehsud (here), Khan Said (here), Qari Hussain (here), Ramzi Mawafi (here) and Sangeen Zadran (here) all now face U.S. sanctions. The designations include prohibitions against knowingly providing, attempting or conspiring to provide material support or resources or engaging in transactions with those designated. The designations also freeze all property and interests of the individuals and entities in the U.S. or in the control of U.S. citizens.

The State Department will no longer accept on or around Oct. 10 the older versions of the DSP-5, DSP-61 and DSP-73 forms, used to certify compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the agency said on Oct. 8, after previously saying the deadline would be on or around Oct. 8. Traders are able to update the forms on the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls website (here).

The State Department will no longer accept on or around Oct. 8 the older versions of the DSP-5, DSP-61 and DSP-73 forms, which are used to demonstrate compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Traders are able to update the forms on the Directorate of Defense and Trade Controls website (here).