Law Clears Way for Satellites to be Removed from U.S. Munitions List

On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Section 1261 of the law repeals the 1999 legislation that placed satellites and related items under the strict rules of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The repeal effectively authorizes the President to move satellite back to the Commerce Control list, subject to certain restrictions.