BIS May Look Into More Export Control Training for Other Agencies, Official Says
PHILADELPHIA -- The Bureau of Industry and Security may look to increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to help them better investigate export control violations, said Thea Kendler, BIS’ assistant secretary for export administration. Although BIS helps train agents from other departments at the Export Enforcement Coordination Center, it could look into bolstering that work, Kendler said May 4 at the annual University Export Control Conference at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Kendler was responding to a question from a university export compliance officer who said he has had trouble with FBI agents visiting his college and not understanding export control technology issues. “You have agents who are deeply passionate about national security but certainly may lack technical understanding,” said Kendler, who worked “quite closely” with the FBI during her time as a DOJ federal prosecutor. She said more training is a “great suggestion.”
Compliance officers should contact an Office of Export Enforcement agent and “bring them into the situation” if other agents “are misunderstanding your technology," Kendler said, “especially if you have an argument that something is either not controlled at all or not controlled to that destination. You know your technology better than anyone else.”
Along with federal agencies, BIS works with local law enforcement in Texas to investigate illegally exported goods, which has sparked concern among industry lawyers and led to disputed seizures (see 2106010073).