A Past Due Level Playing Field

The only association listed on the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) website other than government and multi-lateral organizations is the Society for International Affairs (SIA).  Years ago the SIA became DDTC’s unofficial but de facto outreach, education and training arm.

Much has changed and other “just as valid” associations now exist and provide quality/value-added to practitioners on a wide-range of fronts.  Is this current situation fair to these other credible associations such as the:  American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI), International Compliance Professionals Association, National Council on International Trade Development, Association of Trade Compliance Professionals, National Defense Industrial Association, to name but a few?  Some like AAEI existed long before SIA.

Trade and professional associations and their members are very much a part of our community and contribute a great deal to regulatory compliance.  This is especially so in filling DDTC’s gaps in outreach, education and training.  Isn’t excluding all in favor of just one patently unfair?  Isn’t it time to provide equitable treatment to other relevant associations?  At a minimum shouldn’t they be listed on the DDTC website under OTHER WEB SITES or perhaps even a separate category?

So, why is the SIA still favored, listed and promoted by DDTC above all the others?  Does pushing one and punishing the others communicate a fair and level playing field for a qualified list of “at least as relevant” associations?  Is it appropriate, beneficial and healthy professionally to exclude and ignore the others?

Further, with the long-standing DDTC-SIA relationship aren’t there conflict of interest issues?  SIA has unfettered access to DDTC speakers.  DDTC also plays a significant role coordinating and crafting SIA program agendas.  Do other associations have such distinct advantages to the degree SIA does? 

What do you think?

DDTC 2015 Consent Agreements - What's up?

Anyone wondering what happened to 2015 DDTC Consent Agreements?

2015 is the first year since 1996 with no US Department of State Consent Agreements. 

Over the Last 20 years DDTC has averaged just under 2 ½ Consent Agreements per year. The range is 0-5/year. 

So why nothing in 2015?  Is it because: 

-  Industry is doing a better job complying?

-  DDTC is overwhelmed as a result of Export Control Reform?

-  Consent Agreements take many years to work through?

-  There are too many ongoing cases and not enough resources to close them out?

-  Does the number indicate DDTC is shifting gears taking a different approach?

-  There is less emphasis on compliance and enforcement?

-  It’s just an anomaly?

-  Some other reason…?

It’s also worth noting big doesn’t mean better or more compliant.  Over the last 20 years repeat offenders (i.e. those with multiple DDTC settlements) include:  Boeing (4), Raytheon (3), Lockheed Martin (3) and ITT (2).  Those 4 organizations represent 26% of the total number of DDTC 1996-2016 settlements (47).  

Food for Thought/Discussion (pick one):  

-  What’s the impact on you or your organization when there are no DDTC Consent Agreements in a given year?

-  What can be taken away from DDTC Consent Agreements that impacts your organization’s compliance program?

-  What’s the deterrent effect of DDTC Consent Agreements on you, your organization and industry

License Exception STA - A Continuing Saga…

For those of you upset by and/or frustrated over US Government (USG) insistence on using Export Administration Regulations (EAR) license exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA), expect more of the same.

This appears to be the only case where the USG forces an EAR License Exception down industry’s throat.  This does not happen on the State Department side.  Using or not using an International Traffic in Arms Regulations exemption is at the discretion of the registrant.

Industry still complains about STA saying it’s too complex and an administrative burden.  In the view of many, getting a license proves easier and less problematic.  The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) points the finger at industry indicating those who don’t use STA and can, are uneducated, uniformed or simply don’t understand.  Yet, BIS has amended the exception 16 times.

Another consideration is workload.  If you use STA, the exposure, liability and risk is all yours.  If you submit a license, effort and decision making shift to BIS.  One consequence and reality of Export Control Reform (ECR) are shifting responsibilities from the USG to industry.  Either way, resources are a factor. 

It’s also worth reminding practitioners BIS routinely audits exporters who use STA.  In this context the word “audit” is not politically correct; thus, BIS prefers “review.”  Call it what you will, but they ask for proof it’s being used properly.

Further, STA use is a metric measuring ECR success.  STA use is low and has been since its inception.  There is no doubt BIS is on a quest to increase the numbers, thus a reinvigorated effort to do just that. 

As always there are at least two sides to the story; however, at the end of the day, aren’t trade compliance professionals adults who can and should make their own well-informed business decisions on using or not using an exception or exemption? 

In the spirit of an open/honest dialogue what do you think?

September Arizona Programs - Valuable Education and Training Opportunities on US Export Controls

If you are not fully up-to-speed on Export Control Reform and what's currently going on in Washington DC, check out the three unique, hands-on, practical application and case-study focused September outreach, education and training programs in Arizona.

The full one-day "Evolving Export Controls, Compliance and Enforcement" program is on Tuesday, September 15, in Tucson; and Thursday, September 17, in Phoenix in cooperation with the Arizona Technology Council (AZTC).

AZTC and the University of Phoenix will co-host a free program for academic institutions, labs and federally funded research and development centers September 16 in Phoenix.

Detailed flyers for all three programs including agendas, speakers, registration and discounts are available online.

-  For the Tuesday program in Tucson go to:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/258910253/Tucson-September-15-Evolving-Export-Controls

-  For the Wednesday afternoon program go to:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/258911667/Phoenix-September-16-Academia-Export-Compliance

-  For the Thursday program in Phoenix go to:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/258912225/Phoenix-September-17-Evolving-Export-Controls

The Tuesday and Wednesday programs include breakfast, lunch and end-of-day hosted networking reception as well as no cost 1-hour sessions with the presenters.

If you have questions, please contact the AZTC: In Tucson at 520-382-3281, tucson@aztechcouncil.org; or in Phoenix, at 602-343-8324, events@aztechcouncil.org.

Certification Proliferation Continues - More of the Same - More to Follow…

Here we go again as another provider joins the self-created, self-administered, self-endorsed, for-profit certification bandwagon using self-approved and self-determined standards.  No one should be surprised, but every trade compliance professional needs to be concerned and fully informed.  Do not get sucked in!

The latest comes from The World Academy with their International Trade Compliance Certification (ITCC) for Exporters and a separate ITCC for Importers.  With a one-day course and $395, you too can be a certified expert and add an acronym after your name.  Is that absurd or what? 

Invalid certifications that do not meet true certification program standards with no publicized, credible, external, independent, knowledgeable, unbiased, third-party validation and testing by any reputable authority with no conflicts of interest are becoming the norm. 

Part of the game is setting-up an organization or front company that sounds academic and then creating bogus certifications to go along with it.  Watch out for key words like global, international, academy and institute and then look for the self-proclaimed certifications to follow.  Keys here are revenue generation and creating a steady money-making stream.

This field is a lucrative marketplace as some practitioners have misplaced value in paying money (in some cases lots of it) for adding an acronym or multiple acronyms after their name.  None of which makes a credible expert.  Additionally, some of these for-profit vendors are collaborating and cross-marketing to maximize their return on investment and not step on each other’s toes.

This ongoing proliferation is a timely reminder about thorough due diligence anytime you outsource anything.  Do not spend a penny unless and until you are absolutely certain you have all the relevant facts to make the best and most informed decision possible.  Invalid certifications are Red Flags for savvy professionals.

There are many out there (a growing number in fact) who are more than happy to knowingly and willfully make false, misleading and unsubstantiated claims and misrepresentations by any and all means, happily take your money and provide a deficient product that creates an illusion of expertise and experience.   

If you really want to improve your position, reputation, skills and proven value in the compliance marketplace and open more doors in your upward mobility, get a law degree and by all means, make every effort to get what’s really important--more real world experience.   

FOOD FOR THOUGHT/QUESTIONS:  Is one invalid certification any better or worse than another?  What impact do bogus certifications have on the trade compliance community?  Why not start your own and share in the profits? 

And finally… JANE DOE, International Trade Expert, CCLS^®, CES^®, CUSECO^®, ECoP^®, ITCC^® and CITCP^®.  Are you impressed, depressed or it just doesn’t matter?

Los Angeles - December 9th Defense Trade Essentials - Top-Notch Education & Training for Trade Compliance Professionals

Please join the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service and a group of savvy speakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 9^th, for a day long engaging and interactive session addressing the latest on defense trade controls. 

This hands-on, practical application, case study focused program will much better prepare, educate and train you and your organization to deal with and be ready for a wide-range of real world situations, consequences and other adverse actions in the currently invigorated enforcement environment and all in the context of evolving Export Control Reform (ECR).  

Agenda Summary:

•        Overview/update including ECR issues, the related evolving compliance and enforcement environment with obligations under the Export Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulation

•        Case study insight and lessons learned to minimize risk, exposure, liability for your organization and you

•        Current enforcement and compliance considerations – impact and implications as a result of ECR and the migration from the State Department to Commerce Department

•        Hands-on jurisdiction examples and the critical importance of getting it right in the context of ECR

•        Practical tips to avoid Returned without Action cases and Hot Topics including ECR, brokering, restricted parties screening, third-country/dual-national, mergers and acquisition due diligence and more…

•        Industry panel and best practices – How to successfully navigate defense related articles and services on the US Munitions List and 600 Series items on the Commerce Control List

•        Free one-hour sessions with the presenters to discuss your issues of interest are available on a first come basis

The program includes breakfast, lunch and ends with a networking reception.

For a complete flyer, more information, discounts and a detailed agenda go to: https://www.scribd.com/doc/242449543/Los-Angeles-Defense-Trade-Essentials

Or register now at:  https://www.regonline.com/defensetradeessentials

If you have questions, please contact:  

Delia Valdivia, 310-235-7203, delia.valdivia@trade.gov or

Julie Anne Hennessy, 310-235-7206, julieanne.hennessy@trade.gov

Bogus Certification Proliferation - It Just Doesn't Stop…

There are a growing number of trade compliance and related bogus certifications in the marketplace.  As a professional in the field, if you haven’t read The Export Practitioner article “Certificate vs. Certification: Buyer Beware!” you should.  It’s available through The Export Practitioner website at http://www.exportprac.com.

For your sake and that of our community, we all deserve to know the truth to make the best possible and most informed decisions.  You owe it to yourself and your organization.

When this article was first published in August 2010, there was only one provider selling bogus certifications.  That number has increased and likely will increase as will the number of bogus certifications.

Unfortunately, none of these bogus certifications are based on any universally accepted standards.  None of them are recognized, endorsed or recommended by any credible, external, truly independent, knowledgeable, unbiased, third-party validation authority with no conflicts of interest.

Some providers are interested in outreach, education, training and raising professional standards.  Some are focused on getting your money into their pockets.  Some have no qualms about saying anything, doing anything and taking whatever steps are necessary to generate revenue and create revenue streams.  Some go out of their way to create front organizations to make it appear they are valid. 

All of these bogus certifications do not meet standards as true certification programs.  Some are nothing more than a very expensive certificate program.  However, in a very competitive and demanding marketplace in tough economic times, that leads to some of them knowingly and willfully making false, misleading and unsubstantiated claims.

You owe it to yourself and your organization to do your homework and separate fact from fiction.  The Export Practitioner article explains the differences between certificate and certification programs.  It is a fitting place to start.  It arms you with facts, due diligence tools and important things to consider before you outsource.

If you can’t access or have problems getting to the article, please contact John Priecko, President and Managing Partner, Trade Compliance Solutions, at 703-895-1110, jpriecko@comcast.net, or Sam Gilston, Editor & Publisher, The Export Practitioner and Washington Tariff & Trade Letter, 301-570-4544, sgilston@comcast.net.