Legal Definitions - Bureau of Export Administration

The Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) was a specific division within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its primary responsibilities involved managing and enforcing U.S. export control laws. This included reviewing applications and issuing licenses for the export of certain goods, technologies, and software from the United States, as well as investigating and prosecuting violations of these laws. In 2002, the BXA was reorganized and renamed the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

• Example 1: High-Tech Component Export

  In 1999, a U.S. company developed a sophisticated sensor technology with potential military applications. When they received an order from a foreign government entity in a country deemed sensitive by U.S. foreign policy, they knew they couldn't simply ship the product. They would have had to apply to the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) for an export license. The BXA would then evaluate the destination, the end-user, and the specific technology to determine if the export posed any national security risks before granting or denying the license.

• Example 2: Dual-Use Chemical Equipment

  Imagine a U.S. manufacturer in 2001 that produced specialized pumps and valves for chemical processing plants. While these components had legitimate industrial uses, they could also be adapted for purposes related to weapons development. If this manufacturer wanted to sell a large order of these components to a facility in a country with a questionable non-proliferation record, they would have needed to consult the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA). The BXA would have provided guidance on whether these "dual-use" items required a specific export license and would have been the agency to issue such a license after a thorough review.

• Example 3: Investigating a Software Export Violation

  Suppose that in 2000, a small U.S. software firm unknowingly exported powerful encryption software to a country without obtaining the required government authorization. Upon discovering the oversight, or if an anonymous tip was received, the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) would have been the federal agency responsible for investigating this potential violation of export control regulations. The BXA had the authority to impose penalties, such as fines or restrictions on future export activities, to ensure compliance with U.S. law.