On 10th May 2012, EDA Chief Executive Claude-France Arnould met with Eric Hirschhorn, the Under Secretary of the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security. They had a detailed and productive discussion on a range of issues of mutual interest including security of supply, and the defence industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic.
Under Secretary Hirschhorn then briefed the National Armaments Directors on the U.S. export control reform (ECR) initiative. The essential goals of the ECR are four: (1) to focus on the most important items from a military standpoint and on the countries of greatest concern; (2) to enhance military inter-operability among the U.S. and its friends and allies; (3) to reduce disincentives to purchasing U.S. parts and components and (4) to reduce unnecessary licensing paperwork and related administrative burdens. He explained that the United States accordingly plans to revise the export control lists to be specific about what is controlled and what is subject to which lists. Further, it will transfer less significant items from the controls administered by the Department of State to the more flexible control regime of the Department of Commerce. The U.S. also is taking steps to strengthen enforcement of its export control rules.