Revisions and Clarification of Export and Reexport Controls for the People's Republic of China (PRC); New Authorization Validated End-User; Revision of Import Certificate and PRC End-User Statement Requirements

In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to revise and clarify U.S. licensing requirements and licensing policy on exports and reexports of items to the People's Republic of China (PRC). BIS published a revised policy and related amendments in proposed form in the Federal Register with a request for comments. This final rule establishes a control, based on knowledge of a "military end-use," on exports and reexports to the PRC of certain items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) that otherwise do not require a license to the PRC. It also includes a revision to the license application review policy for items destined for the PRC that are controlled on the CCL for reasons of national security, and revises the license review policy for items controlled for reasons of chemical and biological weapons proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, and missile technology for export to the PRC, requiring that applications involving such items be reviewed in conjunction with the revised national security licensing policy. This rule also creates a new authorization for "validated end-users" to which specified items may be exported or reexported without a license. Validated end-users will be placed on a list in the EAR after review and approval by the United States Government. The process for such review is also set forth in this final rule. This rule also revises the circumstances in which End-User Statements, issued by the PRC Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), must be obtained, requiring them for transactions that both require a license to the PRC for any reason and (for most exports) exceed a total value of $50,000. This final rule also includes other minor corrections and conforming amendments.