Administration of U.S. Export Licensing Should Be Consolidated To Be More Responsive to Industry

Exports of commercially available commodities are regulated by the Secretary of Commerce and a group of consulting departments and agencies. The Department of Commerce makes final licensing decisions unilaterally in some instances; in other instances, decisions are made only after the unanimous consent of consulted agencies is secured. The government's administration of export licensing is characterized by diffused authority and a consequent lack of accountability to the public.