Expansion of the Microprocessor Military End-Use and End-User Control

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the microprocessor military end-use and end-user control in the Export Administration Regulations by expanding the scope of microprocessors subject to the restriction to harmonize with technological advances to microprocessor chips and expand the scope to include related software and technology for the development and production of these chips. In addition, this rule adds a prohibition on the use of license exceptions (including License Exception ENC) and otherwise expands license requirements for exports, reexports, or transfers (in-country) of microprocessors subject to the military end-use and end-user restriction. This expansion is consistent with the foreign policy objectives of the United States of preventing U.S. exports that might contribute to destabilizing military capabilities against the United States and its citizens. The foreign policy report explaining the expansion was sent to Congress on December 1, 2014. This rule also expands the scope of controls to cover in-country transfers, in order to control in-country transfers to prohibited military end users or end uses. BIS is also making editorial and format revisions to this section to improve clarity.