Defense Trade Advisory Group to hold 'virtual' meeting in May

A State Department advisory group that focuses on defense trade issues plans to hold a "virtual" meeting next month, according to a notice published in this morning's Federal Register.

The Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) will meet in open session May 14, the notice reads. "Based on federal and state guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held virtually."

Membership of this panel consists of private-sector defense trade representatives, appointed by the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, who advise the State Department on policies, regulations, and technical issues affecting defense trade.

"The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss current defense trade issues and topics for further study," the notice reads, with the following discussion topics on the agenda:

"(1) Prioritizing Defense Export Control and Compliance System (DECCS) enhancements.

"(2) Improving compliance guidelines for companies and universities.

"(3) Exploring options for improving reporting on political contributions, gifts, commissions, and fees (commonly referred to as [International Trade in Arms Regulations] ‘Part 130’ reporting) pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2779, and where appropriate making recommendations for improvement.

"(4) Exploring types of ‘open’ or other flexible export authorizations administered by other countries, and in the member's experience what works well when operating within such authorizations."

The virtual meeting will be held in WebEx, according to the notice.

Members of the public will be allowed to attend this virtual session and "will be permitted to participate in the question and answer discussion period following the formal DTAG presentation on each agenda topic in accordance with the Chair's instructions. Members of the public may also submit a brief statement (less than three pages) to the committee in writing for inclusion in the public minutes of the meeting."

Virtual attendance for the meeting will be capped at 125 people, the notice states.

Read the full notice.