EAR vs. ITAR — Two US export control regimes
The US operates two parallel export control regimes administered by different agencies: EAR (Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR 730-774) administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at the Commerce Department, and ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 CFR 120-130) administered by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) at the State Department. The split reflects a regulatory choice: dual-use civilian-military items go to Commerce; defense articles and services go to State.
EAR scope and structure
- Items covered: dual-use commercial items, software, technology with potential military applications.
- Classification: Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) on Commerce Control List (CCL).
- Licensing: license exceptions, Country Chart, end-user/end-use review.
- Enforcement: civil penalties, criminal prosecution; voluntary self-disclosure mitigates.
- Recent focus: semiconductors (October 2022, 2023 China controls), AI compute, foundry equipment.
ITAR scope and structure
- Items covered: defense articles on USML (US Munitions List) — weapons, military vehicles, aerospace, military electronics.
- Registration: manufacturers, exporters, and brokers must register with DDTC (annual fee).
- Licensing: generally case-by-case license required; very few exemptions; strict deemed-export rules for foreign nationals.
- Penalties: stringent — civil up to $1M per violation, criminal up to 20 years and $1M.
- USML categories: firearms (Cat I), guns/armament (II), ammunition (III), launch vehicles (IV), explosives (V), through Category XX.
Türk savunma ve teknoloji sektöründe ABD ihracat kontrolü
Türk savunma sanayi (Aselsan, Roketsan, TUSAŞ/TAI) ABD bileşen tedariki için EAR ve ITAR kısıtlamalarıyla yoğun şekilde uğraşır. ABD-kaynaklı kritik bileşenler (F-16 motorları, GE turbojet, Lockheed elektronik) ITAR kapsamında re-export ve son-kullanım kısıtlamalarına tabidir; Türkiye’nin F-35 programından çıkarılması ITAR yaptırım mekanizmasının canlı örneğidir. CAATSA (2017) S-400 alımı sonrası Türkiye’ye yönelik özel ABD yaptırımları ihracat kontrolü çerçevesinde uygulandı. Türk teknoloji şirketlerinin ABD R&D ortaklıklarında ITAR/EAR-controlled teknoloji paylaşımı careful compliance gerektirir.
Do: classify products separately under EAR (ECCN) and ITAR (USML category); track ITAR registration renewal; implement separate ITAR and EAR compliance protocols.
Don’t: treat ITAR as equivalent to EAR — ITAR has stricter exemptions, no de minimis (small US-content triggers control), and harsher penalties.