Export Controls: Assessment of Commerce Department's Foreign Policy Report to Congress
NSIAD-86-172
Published: Aug 19, 1986. Publicly Released: Aug 19, 1986.
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Highlights
GAO examined the Secretary of Commerce's January 1986 report to Congress on extending the foreign policy controls in effect prior to the passage of the Export Administration Amendments Act of 1985, to ensure that it fully complied with the statutory reporting requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should provide, in future reports, a fuller discussion of alternative means available to achieve the purpose of the controls, suitable within the context of U.S. relations with the target country, and, if any alternative means are deemed to be unsuitable or have been used unsuccessfully in the past, the reasons why, including statutory constraints. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Commerce expanded its discussion of this matter in subsequent reports.
|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should more fully and clearly discuss, in future reports, the difficulties in enforcing export controls for foreign policy reasons and specifically address the problems with re-exports. |
Closed – Implemented
Commerce expanded its discussion of this matter in subsequent reports.
|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should include, in future reports, both an introductory discussion of the broader economic factors affecting trade and the limitations of any analysis of the economic impact of a control and a more consistent presentation of information in the individual economic impact sections. |
Closed – Implemented
Commerce expanded its discussion of this matter in subsequent reports.
|
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Topics
Economic policiesExport regulationForeign trade policiesInternational relationsReporting requirementsExport controlsForeign policyExportsSanctionsDiplomats