Commerce Halts Export Licensing

The Commerce Department has reportedly suspended processing applications for new export licenses with no communication to stakeholders.  

Reported Friday by Export Compliance Daily, the pause has created confusion among users of the Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R) system,  managed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Department leadership is in flux, pending the installation of political appointees.   While there isn’t a publicly designated executive solely overseeing SNAP-R, the system falls under the purview of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, a position recently held by Thea D. Rozman Kendler.   Landon Heid has been nominated to the post, though career BIS official Matthew Borman currently holds the position in an acting capacity.

"A primary mission of BIS is the accurate, consistent, and timely evaluation and processing of licenses for proposed exports and re-exports of goods and technology from the United States,"   according to the Bureau's website.