SUMMARY: This rule requires persons intending to export or reexport to Hong Kong any item subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and controlled on the Commerce Control List (CCL) for national security (NS), missile technology (MT), nuclear nonproliferation (NP column 1), or chemical and biological weapons (CB) reasons to obtain, prior to such export or reexport, a copy of a Hong Kong import license or a written statement from the Hong Kong government that such a license is not required.
This rule also requires persons intending to reexport from Hong Kong any item subject to the EAR and controlled for NS, MT, NP column 1, or CB reasons to obtain a Hong Kong export license or a statement from the Hong Kong government that such a license is not required.
DATES: The rule is effective April 19, 2017.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule imposes new support documentation requirements affecting items subject to the EAR that are exported or reexported to Hong Kong or are reexported from Hong Kong. BIS is taking this action to provide greater assurance that U.S. origin items that are subject to the multilateral control regimes noted above will be properly authorized by the United States to their final destination, even when those items first pass through Hong Kong. This rule does not impose any new license requirements.
Exports and Reexports to Hong Kong: This rule requires exporters and reexporters using a BIS license or a license exception to export or reexport to Hong Kong items controlled for NS, MT, NP column 1, or CB reasons to obtain certain documents that verify the items’ status under the Hong Kong Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations. The exporter or reexporter must obtain from its client or consignee a copy of a valid import license issued to the Hong Kong importer by the Hong Kong government authorizing import of the item(s) to be shipped to Hong Kong, or a copy of a written statement issued by the Hong Kong government stating that no import license is required to import the item(s) into Hong Kong. The exporter or reexporter must have the copies in its possession, and any Hong Kong import license must not have expired at the time of the export or reexport to Hong Kong. For purposes of this requirement, a written statement issued by the Hong Kong government includes either a written communication to a license applicant informing the applicant that the item does not require a license or a statement available to the general public (including a statement on a Web site by the Hong Kong government) that a license is not required for the item.
Reexports From Hong Kong: This rule also requires reexporters in Hong Kong intending to reexport from Hong Kong items subject to the EAR that are controlled for NS, MT, NP column 1, or CB reasons to obtain from the Hong Kong government a license authorizing export from Hong Kong of the items, or a copy of a written statement issued by the Hong Kong government stating that no export license is required from Hong Kong to export the items. If a Hong Kong license is issued, the reexport must be in accordance with the terms of that license and must be completed during the validity period of the Hong Kong-issued export license. For purposes of this requirement, a written statement issued by the Hong Kong government includes a written communication to a license applicant informing the applicant that the item does not require a license or a statement available to the general public (including a statement on a Web site by the Hong Kong government) that a license is not required for the item.
For more information, please contact OCEANAIR Compliance at (781) 286-2700 or compliance@oceanair.net.
