Export controls: A European viewpoint

How is it that movements of goods within the United Kingdom may require the permission not only of the UK government but also of the United States government? This paper seeks to provide some answers to that question. It begins with the development of export controls since the end of the Second World War, via CoCom – the Co–ordinating Committee – an organization, technically independent of NATO, representing (eventually) most western European nations. This is followed by an outline of the main features of the current US and UK controls. The opposition of European states to some of the economic and political features of US controls is described. Although there is a broad consensus on the necessity for controlling exports for security considerations, it became apparent early on that the economic interests of the European partners, who relied heavily on export trade, differed from those of the USA, with their huge domestic markets. The paper concludes with some observations on various possible future develop...