Businesses that export goods with the United States must comply with the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce trade regulations. While the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce does not oversee the transfer of all goods and services, it does regulate the export of certain commercial items.

Working with Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce is going to require you to know the source of export regulations, how the BXA enforces them and to stay informed of amendments to those laws that affect how your company handles transactions.

1. Access official websites to locate Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce regulations.

2. Find out how the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce administration enforces export laws to ensure safe and legal trade.

3. Do further research on export regulations so that you'll be able to determine whether you're dealing with authorized persons.

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Know where to find Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Dept regulations on authorized transactions

Focus your search for information on the licensing requirements the bureau may impose on certain entities. For example, before you may move an exported item to a certain entity, you may need to satisfy further licensing requirements that were not required in the first place.

I recommend: Use the Entity List to determine whether you must comply with licensing requirements on listed entities. Use the Unverified List to search for individuals and companies that were previously involved in transactions that the United States government was not able to regulate for one reason or another. Get in the habit of checking the Denied Persons List to ensure that your business does not deal with individuals or corporations that the United States Commerce Department has deemed "unauthorized." Read "How do I Avoid Dealing with Unauthorized Persons" so that your company is familiar with the U.S. government's recommended procedure for bypassing illegal transactions.

Learn about the work done by the compliance and enforcement Bureau of Industry and Security

Understand how the bureau enforces export regulations while still allowing safe and legal trade among nations to take place.

I recommend: Export Enforcement summarizes the agency's commitment to national security and law enforcement. Read about the Office of Enforcement Analysis' pre-license screening and overseas export control officer program. The Export Management and Compliance Program further explains individual decisions that are made regarding compliance with U.S. export regulations. Read Criminal and Civil Penalties to become aware of the consequences resulting from a failure to comply with U.S. export law.

Get updated information on services the bureau offers with timely news releases

The services that government agencies are subject to change more often than many realize. Get answers to basic questions about services, such as whether the jurisdiction regulating your export items has changed recently. Find out about new amendments to licensing requirements that could change how you work with the bureau.

I recommend: Search the Federal Register Notices Affecting the EAR to learn about amendments to regulations that change what your business is required to do. The About Prohibited Parties database serves your business by allowing you to find out whether you're dealing with authorized persons. Read answers to Frequently Asked Questions to find out what services the staff can provide for exported items subject to any new regulations.

The Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) of the US Department of Commerce is a division of the Bureau of Industry and Security. The BXA writes, delivers and sells the EAR, which is the US Bureau of Export Administration regulations. Every exporter must know and follow the bureau of export administration regulations. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the information of the BXA has grown dramatically. There are restrictions on countries and people who are allowed to export out of the U.S.

Export regulations are constantly changing as well, so you will needs to have access to the updates and changes. The language in the Bureau of Export Administration’s EAR is full of acronyms and legalese and really needs an interpreter with a legal degree and exporting experience to decipher completely.

1. Purchase your own copy of the bureau of export administration regulations

2. Hire an export attorney to decipher the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) language

3. Designate an employee to monitor the information on the Bureau of Export Administration

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Go online to get the Bureau of Export Administration regulations database

While you can pay less for a hard loose-leaf copy of the export regulations, you only will receive occasional updates. The most expensive online database from the US Bureau of Export Administration is $314 per year, well worth the extra $150 or so because you will receive constant updates and email alerts with this BXA EAR subscription.

I recommend: Go directly to the Bureau of Export Administration regulations database to order online. You can view a list of entities barred from doing business with the U.S. by the Bureau of Export Administration at the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Outsource your compliance work to consultants who specialize in BXA regulations

With the massive amount of information included in the Bureau of Export Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, this could be the time when you need to give in and bring on the consultants. Especially with Homeland Security issues so tenuous, you want to be sure your experts are in compliance with every detail of the Bureau of Export Administration regulations.

I recommend: eCustoms is an online subscription service that will work with your organization and decode the information on the Bureau of Export Administration. Attorney Michael A. Capuzzi devotes his time exclusively to customs and international trade law.

Send your staff to BXA regulations training

You may have a highly intelligent CFO or in-house legal counsel, but even the export administration bureau admits that its language is difficult to read and understand. The Bureau of Export Administration claims that this is necessary to avoid unlawful exporters from finding loopholes in the EAR. Check out some training or advisory manuals that can help your staff keep the company in the clear with the Feds.

I recommend: OCR Services will come in and check your export applications, or train your own staff to understand the complicated information on the BXA. Precision Software can hook you up with training manuals and update your compliance software for the Bureau of Export Administration of the US Department of Commerce regulations database.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't let the daunting regulations from government departments such as the Bureau of Export Administration of the US Department of Commerce deter you from exporting your goods and technology. The market is global for most industries and you should take advantage of every trade opportunity you can.

The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) enforces the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The Bureau is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which has the broad goal of furthering U.S. trade at home and abroad. The BIS is perhaps best known for regulating "dual-use" exports, products that can be used either for consumer purposes or to build military technologies.

As such, many high-tech exports are subject to BIS regulations, but other products fall under the bureau's supervision as well. Whether you are an entrepreneur or trade lawyer, you need to keep up with changing codes to ensure you are in compliance. There are several places where you can find reliable Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security news and trends:

1. The Bureau of Industry and Security of the US Department of Commerce is a good place to start. Its website features news and recent changes in the EAR.

2. You can also find information about the BIS on blogs that publish news about international trade.

3. There are several trade publications that also report on bureau of industry and security regulations and compliance issues.

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Go straight to the source when looking for changes in BIS regulations

Government sources are the best place to go when looking for information in BIS regulations. In addition to the EAR itself, you'll find news about recent changes in the code, as well as information about relevant seminars and hearings.

I recommend: The Bureau of Industry and Security has a feed of its recent newsworthy doings. The International Trade Administration, which is tasked with ensuring trade compliance, publishes a blog. The Wassenaar Arrangement is an international organization established to control the trade of military arms and dual-use technology; its function is like that of the BIS, but on a global scale.

Follow blogs to keep tabs on export regulations

Blogs are useful because they publish information as it becomes available. Those in the export industry can appreciate timely information, as changes in the EAR might mean big changes for their clients.

I recommend: International Trade Law News reports extensively on BIS happenings. Boskage Trade News maintains a blog that also reports on export controls. ExportLawBlog reports on a wide range of export news, including important BIS developments. International Trade: Customs and Other Regulatory Agencies follows many agencies, from Fish and Wildlife Services to the BIS.

Read publications that report on the BIS

There are many publications that report on international trade controls. You should do some research to find out which offers the most relevant information for your business. Some cover trade controls for certain industries, while others focus on specific countries.

I recommend: The Federation of International Trade Associations has a database of over 8,000 publications and resources that relate to international trade. You can sign up for its bi-weekly newsletter to get a sampling of the most useful. Washington Trade Daily is a respected publication for the import/export industry. The Export Practitioner is a trade journal offers analysis of regulations and compliance.

Doing business in a global economy means adhering to export rules and regulations. The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) governs certain commercial exports. Knowing the rules set forth by the BXA is not just a suggestion--it's a very important responsibility. Non-compliance with BXA rules can net serious consequences. While an attorney can help you with the legalese, it's on you to learn your obligations. To help you get started, consider the following key terms and resources.

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Export Administration Regulations

Export Administration Regulations (EAR) governs the control of exports and includes anti-boycott law provisions. Set up to protect national security and forge foreign policy, the EAR works through multilateral control agreements. Special provisions are set up to control the export of weapons.

I recommend: The Bureau of Export Administration gives an overview of Export Administration Regulations and the history behind it.

Office of Export Enforcement

The Office of Export Enforcement, or OEE, conducts investigations in regard to EAR compliance. Not only does the office have the right to make arrests and conduct search warrants, it can also issue temporary denial orders. These orders deny an exporter's privileges for ongoing EAR violations.

I recommend: The Bureau of Industry and Security explains the Office of Export Enforcement's role.

Shipper's export declaration

A shipper's export declaration is a specific form required for all shipments. The shipper must declare the value, weight, destination and other required information on the form. The U.S. Treasury Department oversees these declarations.

I recommend: Check out the Unz & Co. "Basic Guide to Exporting" for a sample shipper's export declaration form.

Pre-license checks

Not only are all export licenses subject to intense scrutiny, in some instances, the Office of Export Enforcement conducts pre-license checks. This is when the office checks the actual transaction for accuracy, including determining the validity of the destination.

I recommend: Get more information about pre-license checks and other export enforcement initiatives from International Trade Law News.

Post-shipment verifications

A post-shipment verification is a process in which the U.S. government confirms that the shipment you export is used according to EAR regulations and the terms of the shipper's export license.

I recommend: The U.S. Government Accountability Office points out the limitations of a post-shipment verification system.

Unverified list

The unverified list is the U.S. government's version of the naughty list. If a company's name winds up on the unverified list, you may want to reconsider doing business with them. The Bureau of Export Administration officials were not able to perform pre-license checks or post-shipment verification on the businesses making the list.

I recommend: Review an updated unverified list at the Official Export Guide, which provides updated information from the Bureau of Industry and Security.