Trust in AUKUS Partners’ Export Controls
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) emphasized that the State Department should fully trust that Australia and the U.K. have comparable export control systems to the ITAR. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2024 stipulates that most exports to these countries should be exempt if their controls are comparable to U.S. standards.
Despite all three countries being part of international agreements like the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime, the State Department has not clarified how it will certify that Australia and the U.K. have comparable systems. The National Foreign Trade Council echoed this concern.
The proposed ITAR changes include requiring assurances from Australia and the U.K. that significant military equipment won’t be reexported without U.S. approval. Critics argue this undermines the notion of comparable export controls.
See-Through Rule Scrutiny
A controversial aspect of the proposed rule is the “see-through rule,” which subjects any defense items developed using U.S. data or components in Australia or the U.K. to ITAR jurisdiction. The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and other commentators argue this undercuts AUKUS’s purpose by imposing unnecessary scrutiny on trusted allies.
