Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778), as amended, authorizes the President to control the export and import of defense articles and defense services. The statutory authority of the President to promulgate regulations with respect to exports of defense articles and defense services is delegated to the Secretary of State by Executive Order 13637. This subchapter implements that authority, as well as other relevant authorities in the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.). By virtue of delegations of authority by the Secretary of State, these regulations are primarily administered by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

Authorized officials. All authorities administered by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls pursuant to this subchapter may be exercised at any time by the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security or the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls supervises the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, which is comprised of the following offices:

The Office of Defense Trade Controls Licensing and the Director, Office of Defense Trade Controls Licensing, which have responsibilities related to licensing or other approvals of defense trade, including references under parts 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, and 130 of this subchapter.

The Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance and the Director, Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance, which have responsibilities related to violations of law or regulation and compliance therewith, including references contained in parts 122, 126, 127, 128, and 130 of this subchapter, and that portion under part 129 of this subchapter pertaining to registration.

The Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy and the Director, Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy, which have responsibilities related to the general policies of defense trade, including references under parts 120 and 126 of this subchapter, and the commodity jurisdiction procedure under part 120 of this subchapter.

Receipt of licenses and eligibility. (1) A U.S. person may receive a license or other approval pursuant to this subchapter. A foreign person may not receive such a license or other approval, except as follows:

A foreign governmental entity in the U.S. may receive a license or other approval;

A foreign person may receive a reexport or retransfer approval; or

A foreign person may receive a prior approval for brokering activities.

A request for a license or other approval by a U.S. person or by a person referred to in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (c)(1)(iii) of this section will be considered only if the applicant has registered with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls pursuant to part 122 or 129 of this subchapter, as appropriate.

Persons who have been convicted of violating the U.S. criminal statutes enumerated in § 120.27, who have been debarred pursuant to part 127 or 128 of this subchapter, who are subject to indictment or are otherwise charged (e.g., charged by criminal information in lieu of indictment) with violating the U.S. criminal statutes enumerated in § 120.27, who are ineligible to contract with or to receive a license or other form of authorization to import defense articles or defense services from any agency of the U.S. Government, who are ineligible to receive an export license or other approval from any other agency of the U.S. Government, or who are subject to a Department of State policy of denial, suspension, or revocation under § 126.7(a) of this subchapter, are generally ineligible to be involved in activities regulated under the subchapter.

The exemptions provided in this subchapter do not apply to transactions in which the exporter, any party to the export (see § 126.7(e) of this subchapter), any source or manufacturer, broker or other participant in the brokering activities, is generally ineligible as set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, unless prior written authorization has been granted by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.