Currently, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security
(BIS) chairs the interagency taskforce which considers export licensing
decisions when any of the other departments files an objection. While the
departments can appeal any decision made by the BIS official in charge of
proceedings to a committee comprising assistant secretaries of each of the 4 departments,
they cannot themselves stop the license even if all 3 departments object to Commerce’s
initial licensing decision.
The legislation, if passed by the Senate, would allow BIS to grant or deny a
contested license only in the event of a tie vote. The legislation would
also mandate that the interagency panel meet and vote on any export licenses to
Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, or Venezuela.
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