EAR Compliance & Licensing Masterclass + ITAR Week

PART 1:

The Semiconductor Rule, MEU, and Foreign Direct Product Rules

15 CFR Part 744‑Military User and End‑User Regulations: Need‑to‑Know Concepts for Semiconductor Equipment and Technologies, MEUs, and Their Practical Impact

• Defining “military end‑user”
• EAR Section 744.21 restrictions on the export, reexport, and transfer of certain items for “military end uses”
• How and why BIS expanded the “Military End‑User” definition to include: any item “that supports or contributes to the operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, refurbishing, ‘development,’ or ‘production,’ of military items.”
• Preparing for the Affiliates Rule
• Understanding the six elements of the “use” definition in the EAR
• Recent expansion of restrictions on the provision of items to “Military End‑User” to Burma, Cambodia, China, Nicaragua, Venezuela; plus distinct Belarus/Russia pathway
• EAR Section 744.22 restrictions on the export, reexport, and transfer of certain items for military‑intelligence end uses
• Supplement No. 2 to Part 744: Items subject to the military end use/end user restrictions
• Products, software, and technology, including lower‑level encryption items, semiconductor equipment and technology, and aircraft parts and components
• ECCNs 2A290, 2A291, 2B999, 2D290, 3A991, 3A992, 3A999, 3B991, 3B992, 3C992, 3D991, 5B991, 5A002, 5D002, 5A992, 5D992, 6A991, 6A996, and 9B990
• ECCNs 3A090, 4A090 and changes to the licensing regime
• Regional Stability (RS) controls for certain items: “Y” paragraph of 600‑series and 9×515 ECCNs
• Exports or re‑exports to China or in‑country transfers within China of items covered by §744.21
• What recordkeeping is necessary throughout the product development of a 600 Series item?

The Essentials and Nuance of the FDPR:

• What is and isn’t captured by the rule
• How to determine when an item is a direct product of technology and software
• Best practices for complying with BIS KYC rules, including the new 2026 mandatory remote‑access safeguards and IaaS (Infrastructure‑as‑a‑Service) certifications.

PART 2:

Putting Theory into Practice

• How the expanded definition of “Military End User” impacts your export compliance strategy for dual use items
• Key updates and advanced FAQs for classifying encryption, semiconductor, and supercomputer products, software, and emerging technologies (e.g., AI): the affected ECCNs, what defines an “end use,” which territories are affected, and which license exceptions are available?
• FDPR: Exploring recent “creative” uses of FDPR and key pitfalls to avoid
• Case Study: Enforcement Story and Lessons Learned

PART 3:

Interactive Session: Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups (Not Recorded)

• Attendees will break out into small‑group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small‑group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

PART 4:

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat. This session is not recorded to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!

PART 1:

Navigating the Grey Areas of Deemed Export and Re-Export Compliance

Section 734.13(b) of the EAR

• Key definitions, including “deemed export,” “re-export” and “foreign national”
• Understanding the “deemed export” rule governing transfers of U.S.- origin technology and technical data to foreign nationals
• When is a BIS license required for a foreign national?
• Practical tips for interpreting deemed export rules
• Minimizing the risk of sharing controlled technical data with suppliers, customers, and business partners
• What is permissible when screening for nationality to satisfy export control requirements: Anti-discrimination laws and their intersection with export controls
• Practical tips for detecting, mapping, and evaluating risk
• Instituting proper controls for the sharing of information between foreign parties, parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates
• Determining administrator and user access based on identity, location, and rights

Sections 734.2(b), 734.15 and 734.20: Technology Transfers Under the EAR

• How to define “technology” and “technical data” under the EAR
• EAR definitions of a “release” of “technology” or source code under Section 734.15
• Activities that are not “deemed” re-exports under Section 734.20
• Exceptions: Published technology, fundamental research, nonproprietary systems descriptions

Strengthening Technology Control Plans: Best Practices

• What is a technology control plan (“TCP”)?
• Examples of IT controls and network access rights and upgrades
• Risks associated with business partners: How to assess if they are in compliance when handling your technology?

PART 2:

Putting Theory into Practice

• How current or anticipated policy and regulatory changes impact your compliance program
• How to identify and assess new, emerging compliance risks
• Best practices for designing a TCP for your organization and individuals (no matter where on the org chart)
• Practical guidance to minimize the risk of sharing controlled technical data with suppliers, customers, and business partners
• Case Study: Protecting a Research Institution from Deemed Export and Technology Transfer Risk

PART 3:

Hypothetical Scenario(Not Recorded)

PART 1:

Key Missteps to Avoid in Your EAR License Application: Form BIS-7849, SNAP-R, and Reducing the Risk of RWAs

• When is an EAR license required and how to submit an application that meets BIS expectations: New, heightened layers of review
• 600 Series licensing and associated challenges
• How to draft effective license applications: BIS requirements and expectations

Supplemental information required in the application

• Developing data sheets, end-user statements and cover letters
• Preparing supporting documentation verification of ECCNs
• end-use of items to be exported
• documents supplied by the prospective purchaser
• international import certificate
• statement of ultimate consignee and purchaser
• Technology Control Plans and other detailed information for license applications

• The approvals process, expected timeline and how to reduce the risk of delay
• Requests for additional information: How are licensing determinations made by BIS?
• What triggers a Return Without Action (RWA)?
• Accepting and implementing conditions
• Process for amending a license
• Re-export licenses and license responsibility for foreign parties
• How to reduce the risk of delay in the approval process – common pitfalls to avoid

PART 2:

Putting Theory into Practice

• Unpacking the impact of new, heightened layers of BIS license reviews
• How to identify when a license is needed and how to ensure your team is prepared to handle requests for information
• Common mistakes to avoid when applying for a license

PART 3:

Interactive Session: Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups (Not Recorded)

PART 1:

Application and Significant Developments Related to Key Licensing Exceptions

• Shipments of Limited Value (LVS)
• Servicing and Replacement of Parts and Equipment (RPL)
• Strategic Trade Authorization (STA)
• Technology and Software Unrestricted (TSU)
• Temporary Imports, Exports, Re-Exports, and Transfers (TMP)
• Governments, International Organizations, International Inspections Under the CWC & ISS (GOV)
• Encryption Commodities, Software, and Technology (ENC)
• Notes on other select, specialized exceptions

PART 2:

Putting Theory into Practice

• Case studies from various industries that demonstrate how export compliance teams solved a complex export compliance scenario
• Benchmarking via audience polling

PART 3:

Case Study with Scenario Review

PART 4:

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat. This session is not recorded to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!

PART 1:

BIS “Know Your Customer” Guidance, Supply Chain-Screening and Red Flags: The Essentials of Vetting Third Parties, End-Users and End-Uses

• What are the most important risk areas to consider when screening, vetting, and choosing suppliers?
• How can exporters identify and resolve third party risks early on?
• Refresher on BIS “Know Your Customer” Guidance
• Screening based on the Denied Persons List and Entity List
• “Red Flags” that should trigger suspicion at the due diligence phase
• Key EAR requirements for freight forwarders and other third parties throughout the supply chain
• Where the exporter’s responsibility for third party compliance begins and ends
• Vetting and monitoring third parties, including subcontractors, freight forwarders, distributors, customs brokers, customers, re-sellers and others
• Contractual safeguards to implement for orders and shipments, nature and extent of audit rights, and when to terminate the relationship due to export enforcement risks
• How to monitor supplier and other third-party outsourcing activities

PART 2:

Putting Theory into Practice

• An overview of the key components of an effective third-party screening system
• What are the techniques and resources used by seasoned export compliance professionals to identify and monitor third party risks in transactions before they “appear on the list?”
• Looking beyond the lists to vet your organization’s stakeholders (shareholders, leaders, employees, suppliers, and customers)
• Case studies of where enhanced screening methods identified a risk before it emerged, and horror stories where enhanced screening methods could have prevented an issue

PART 1:

Strengthening Your Export Management and Compliance Program (EMCP)

• The core elements of an effective export management and compliance program (EMCP) that account for both export and sanctions risks?
• Concrete examples of the changes that exporters are making to stay compliant in the wake of recent developments
• How exporters are upgrading their tracking of classification and re-classification
• Recordkeeping do’s and don’ts
• How sanctions can overlap with export controls and how to manage it
• The anatomy of an effective training and internal communications plan for to drive export compliance across an organization (benchmarking poll)
• Making the business case: How to measure and communicate the positive impact of your program to leadership

PART 2:

Key EAR Enforcement Actions and Compliance Lessons Learned

• The Disruptive Technologies Strike Force: Enforcement impacts
• How do enforcement agencies work together?
• What kinds of EAR violations trigger an enforcement response?
• What pushes a case from a warning letter to a penalty – and what can lead to criminal prosecution?
• What can mitigate versus increase your company’s exposure?
• How do you handle law enforcement requests for help in the investigation of a third party?
• What is a voluntary disclosure? How BIS approaches them – and the impact on penalties

PART 3:

Putting Theory into Practice

• Best practices for upgrading your program to identify and mitigate new compliance risks
• Case Study: “I have a license to export– but can I sell to this entity?”
• Best practices for designing employee training and internal communications programs for export compliance, and how to work with other stakeholder groups in your organization
• How to get buy-in from leaders, moving them from seeing compliance as a cost and a barrier to business to understanding its value

PART 4:

Interactive Session: Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups (Not Recorded)

• Attendees will break out into small-group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small-group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

PART 5:

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat. This session is not recorded to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!

PART 1:

Roadmap of Global Export Control Regimes

• EU, US, UK: Comparing and contrasting the US export control regime to the EU and UK export compliance regimes, reviewing critical changes and updates—demystifying grey areas, points of intersection and divergence, and key agencies and contacts.
• Export Control Regimes to Watch: Canada, Mexico, China: How will retaliatory trade policies impact your export compliance program and what can you do to protect your organization from risk? What other global regimes are making moves, and how will they impact your compliance program and your organization?
• Other Export Control Regimes to Watch in Asia and the Middle East
• The Wassenaar Arrangement: An overview of the history, current state, and future of this crucial multilateral trade control agreement and how it effects global trade regimes – and where members are pulling away
• Benchmarking via audience polling

PART 2:

Putting Theory into Practice

• Where do global export control regimes overlap, and where do they leave gaps, and what are the policies that drive them?
• What are the best practices for multi-jurisdictional export compliance in today’s environment?
• What resources, including key contacts, can you use to leverage to strengthen your compliance program and avoid costly errors?

PART 3:

Interactive Session: Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups (Not Recorded)

• Attendees will break out into small-group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small-group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

PART 4:

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat. This session is not recorded to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!

• Identifying when foreign commercial products and technology can become ITAR-controlled
• Considerations for classification of sensitive technologies that are not on the USML

Defense Articles

• Definition of “Defense Articles”
• Clarifying ITAR application to commercial and “dual use” items
• How original design intent, government funding, specifications, underlying technology, and intended market can affect jurisdiction
• Definition of “public domain” and of ITAR’s “See Through” rule
• Integrating commercial and defense technologies

Technical Data

• Defining “technical data” and “export” of technical data under the ITAR
• Determining whether technical data is in the “public domain” under 120.11
• Identifying whether technical data is ITAR controlled
• Recent DDTC guidance on how to control technical data
• Reducing the risk of technical data export violations
• Complying with restrictions governing technical discussions

Defense Services

• What are “defense services” under the ITAR? Common examples and pitfalls to avoid.
• How the broad definition of “defense services” affects commercial business
• How U.S. persons can engage in ITAR controlled “defense services” by simply providing public domain information
• How “defense services” can cover technical data related to ITAR controlled items

ITAR Parts 120 & 121: The “Specially Designed” Definition: Where Exporters Have Gone Right and Wrong in Determining ITAR Jurisdiction

• What is the “specially designed or modified” reach of the ITAR?
• What are the qualifiers for a “specially designed” designation?
• A review of the most common mistakes by industry when making this determination
• The dos and don’ts for self-classifying items as “specially designed”
• How to ensure adequate documentation to support your position

Classification/Re-Classification in Practice: A Step-by-Step Guide to Structuring Your Classification Approach, and the Most Common Missteps to Avoid

• The fundamental importance of jurisdiction and classification
• Ensuring self-classification follows a proper analysis through the order of review and uses essential sources
• What is the approach to take for self-classification, compared with writing a Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) request?
• Handling situations where an item meets the control criteria of multiple entries by determining the correct classification
• Understand how to approach self-classifications for hardware, technical data, software, and services
• How do companies design and maintain jurisdiction and classification systems (e.g., creating databases to store the classifications, creating bucket classification groups)?
• How to create defendable self-classification assessments, especially when it is determined the item is not subject to the ITAR
• The use of engineers and other subject-matter experts to perform self-classifications
• What to do if there is an error in self-classification? Does it mean there is a violation?
• ITAR jurisdiction and classification issues concerning foreign made products
• Addressing the ITAR see-thru rule and other important rules
• Relying on supplier and manufacturer self-classifications
• When to revisit previous self-classifications

ITAR Sections 120.3 and 120.4 – When to Use the Commodity Jurisdiction Process, and How to Draft a CJ Request

Through a review of best practices and common pitfalls, you will gain comprehensive guidance for preparing CJ requests- and deciding when to file a CJ instead of conducting a self-determination. You will also benefit from insight on how DDTC and DTSA review CJ requests, and recent trends in jurisdictional determinations.

• Preparing a CJ request: What you need to submit, what supporting material to include and other key elements
• DDTC Guidelines for preparing CJ requests: What the State Department expects
• Who should prepare CJ requests and when
• Key factors affecting CJ determinations: Recent trends in rulings and lessons learned Hypothetical Exercises, Q&A and Review
• How to interpret CJ determinations, and what you can do with them
• The consequences of filing a CJ determination: Pre-filing, while awaiting a decision, and afterwards
• Strategic uses of the commodity jurisdiction procedure
• Alternatives to using the commodity jurisdiction process

Putting Theory into Practice: Advanced Techniques, Case Studies, and Hypothetical Scenarios

• Tips and tricks for determining jurisdiction, new strategies and best practices for ITAR classification
• Concrete case study examples of complex classification challenges
• Benchmarking via audience polling

Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups Share Their Results and Instructors Provide Additional Guidance (Not Recorded)

• Attendees will break out into small-group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small-group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat. This session is not recorded to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!

How to Prepare and Secure an ITAR License, TAA and MLA, and Reduce the Risk of RWAs: A Deep Dive into the Electronic Filing Process, License Application and Supporting Documentation

ITAR Licenses: A Deep Dive into Requirements for Securing a DSP-5, DSP-73, or DSP-61 and DSP-85

• When a DSP-5, DSP-73, or DSP-61, DSP-85 is required: The approvals process, how to expedite the process, timeframes and how to reduce the risk of delay
• Ensuring you get hardware and tech data included on a single license
• Returns: Special considerations
• Licenses in furtherance of agreements
• Constructing an accurate scope of export in your license application
• Drafting a license application: What to include, how to fill out the forms using DTrade2, and how to submit the application
• When to use a letter of intent to support a license request
• What DDTC expects beyond the written guidelines
• Structuring and valuing license authorizations
• Key reasons for RWA (Returns without Action) or license denials, and how to prevent them

ITAR Agreements: Demystifying TAAs, MLAs and WDAs

• Overview of the different types of ITAR agreements, what is required, the timeline, and how to reduce the risk of delay
• When and how to get TAAs, TAA Amendments, Re-Baselined TAAS and MLAs
• When to cover foreign nationals under MLAs and TAAs
• Degree of information expected by DDTC and DTSA in TAA scope of export and statement of work
• What DDTC and DTSA expect beyond the written guidelines
• Analysis of sample TAAs and MLAs

Putting Theory into Practice: Advanced Techniques, Case Studies, and Hypothetical Scenarios

• Unpacking the new, heightened layers of review for licenses
• Best practices to identify when a license is needed and how to ensure your team is prepared to handle requests for information (benchmarking poll)
• Common mistakes and things often overlooked in applying for license and applying exceptions

Interactive Session: Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups (Not Recorded)

• Attendees will break out into small-group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small-group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!

Review of ITAR Enforcement Cases and Practical Takeaways

Experts will take you through the most important compliance lessons learned from key enforcement actions, and how exporters are updating their ITAR compliance programs and supply chain management in response.

The Nuts and Bolts of an ITAR Compliance Program

• Key elements and best practices for effective ITAR compliance
• Identifying and empowering the right internal resources and personnel
• Developing and updating your compliance manual, procedures and processes, including policy statements and message from senior management
• Creating an anonymous reporting tool and compliance hotline
• Ensuring that your program can adapt to new, evolving ITAR compliance risk factors

What to Do If You Suspect or Discover an ITAR Violation: Real-World Guidance

• What pushes a case from a DDTC warning letter to a penalty, and what can lead to a criminal prosecution
• Top mistakes to avoid during a government and internal investigation
• Examples of how to strengthen an ITAR compliance program to meet agency expectations

Putting Theory into Practice: Advanced Techniques, Case Studies, and Hypothetical Scenarios

• Best practices on how you can upgrade your program to identify and mitigate these unique compliance risks before they arise
• Case Study: “I have a license to export– but can I sell to this entity?”
• Best practices for designing employee training and internal communications programs for export compliance, and how to work with other stakeholder groups in your organization
• How to get buy-in from leaders, moving them from seeing compliance as a cost and a barrier to business to understanding its value

Interactive Session: Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups (Not Recorded)

• Attendees will break out into small-group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small-group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

Hypothetical Scenario Breakout Groups Share Their Results and Instructors Provide Additional Guidance

• Attendees will break out into small-group sessions to work on a hypothetical scenario, with each one led by one of the expert instructors.
• Attendees will reconvene and each small-group session will be asked to share their solutions and the outcomes of their discussions. The speakers will also provide input and guidance.

Open Q&A and Networking (Not Recorded)

• An extended session for live Q&A and networking, during which attendees may pose questions to the presenters on camera/audio or through the chat. This session is not recorded to encourage an open, candid discussion of hot button questions!