Global Trade Compliance Campaign Launched Ahead of Reform

AEB’s campaign is aimed at guiding U.K. businesses through the Obama administration’s upcoming export control reform changes

Leamington Spa, EnglandSept.19, 2013AEB (International) Ltd., a provider of supply chain management and global trade solutions, is launching a comprehensive global trade compliance campaign featuring events, new white papers and awareness literature ahead of the Obama administration’s upcoming export control reform (ECR) changes. AEB’s campaign is aimed at guiding U.K. businesses through these changes and helping them understand how it will affect their global trade compliance processes.

The U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) have now finalized the first two sets of rules, redefining how the U.S. government protects sensitive technologies, and regulates exports of munitions and commercial items with military applications. The first set of rules will take effect on October 15, 2013, while the second set was issued in July and will take effect on January 6, 2014.

How these changes will affect companies outside the U.S. and what they require are crucial and urgent questions for British businesses. To help them understand the impact of the new rules, AEB is launching various export controls initiatives to raise awareness and educate companies about compliance obligations.

Amongst AEB’s compliance initiatives is the sponsorship of the 26th Annual Global Trade Controls (GTC) Conference organized by IBC Global Conferences. This industry event for global export control compliance will take place on November 5 and 6 at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, with pre- and post-conference workshops about export licensing and trade controls, and understanding defense trade controls on November 4 and 7, respectively. On this occasion, participants can network with government officials and peers in the areas of export controls and compliance, and also have the opportunity to take part in three problem-solving clinics about due diligence and export controls, developing a technology control plan, and privacy laws and screening.

AEB is an official sponsor of the GTC conference and will showcase its end-to-end global trade management solution portfolio, including restricted-party screening, export control license management, dual-use goods, critical end-use goods and country embargoes. During the conference, AEB will also promote the latest awareness literature on U.S. export controls, including the latest changes to the U.S. Export Administration Regulation (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

This topic will also be addressed on November 5 as part of the GTC first day program at 2 p.m. via video link. Eric L. Hirschhorn, under secretary of the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, will present a keynote entitled “Export Control Reform: Preparation for Change” to address the resulting challenges and obligations for U.K. businesses.

Claire Umney, AEB’s general manager, said, “With the upcoming export control reform, it’s crucial for U.K. companies handling U.S.-controlled items or data to understand U.S. re-export controls and re-transfer rules, and how U.S. export controls differ from national controls.”

The conference will take place at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, 2-24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT. 

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