Export Controls Will Become More Effective When They Include Plurilateral Controls
Export controls are the rules governing (1) the export, re-export, and transfer of (2) dual-use, commercial, military, and proliferation-related (3) commodities, technology, software, and services (4) by U.S. and foreign persons (5) to specific destinations, end uses, and end users (6) to accomplish national security or foreign policy—including human rights—objectives.
To know whether a control is effective, a government must first define what its national security and foreign policy objectives are. Whatever the definition, national security-based controls are effective under the following conditions. First, they must be focused on weapons and other items that provide an adversary with a military or intelligence advantage or are necessary for the development, production, or use of weapons, particularly WMDs. Second, they must be agreed to and implemented by allied countries transparently and with common policy objectives. Finally, they must be clearly and predictably enforced, administered, and updated by all such countries.
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