The Arms Export Control Act authorizes the President to control the import and export of defense articles and services. If the President chooses, they can issue a license to an individual or organization that wishes to export defense articles or services. Otherwise, exportation of these items is not permitted. Decisions on whether to issue an export license for the defense article or service take into account whether the export would contribute to an arms race, aid in the development of weapons of mass destruction, support international terrorism, increase the possibility of outbreak or escalation of conflict, or prejudice the development of bilateral or multilateral arms control or nonproliferation agreements or other arrangements. The defense items controlled by the Arms Export Control Act appear in the United States Munitions List.
[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]