India and the United States (US) discussed export control issues related to items of dual use, ahead of the first meeting of the US-India Strategic Trade Dialogue (USISTD). This article discusses what dual use export control is, its importance in preventing illegal weapons of mass destruction programmes, and its role in preventing acts of terrorism, human rights abuses and controlling the trade in cyber-surveillance systems. It also outlines the work of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in the area of dual-use export controls and highlights the recent launch of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue, its objectives, and its role in the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
What is Dual-Use Export Control?
Dual-use items are goods and technologies that may be used for both civilian and military purposes. Dual-use export controls cover a wide range of products and technologies and affect not only manufacturers but also transport providers, academia, and research institutions. Dual-use export licenses are required in certain situations involving national security, foreign policy, short-supply, nuclear non-proliferation, missile technology, chemical and biological weapons, regional stability, crime control, or terrorist concerns.
The Importance of Dual-Use Export Control
The key contribution of dual-use export control to international security has been in preventing the supply of goods and technologies that may contribute to illegal weapons of mass destruction programmes. However, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on the role they can play in other areas, including preventing acts of terrorism and human rights abuses and controlling the trade in cyber-surveillance systems.
The Work of SIPRI in Dual-Use Export Control
SIPRI’s work on dual-use export controls focuses on the development and implementation of national laws and regulations, United Nations and European Union arms embargoes, the EU Dual-Use Regulation, the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Australia Group, and UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
The India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue
Recently, India and the US launched an initiative called the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue, which is an official government-to-government arrangement to deepen the engagement around the area of aligning export controls and information sharing. The dialogue aims to address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfer between the two countries. The dialogue will prove to be a building block for the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
The Role of iCET in Dual-Use Export Control
The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is a partnership between India and the US that aims to promote bilateral cooperation in technology trade and investment. It seeks to enhance the understanding of critical and emerging technologies and facilitate their development and deployment in both countries. The iCET initiative will build on the US-India Strategic Trade Dialogue to address issues of dual-use technology and ensure that appropriate safeguards are put in place.
The most important things to take away from this article are:
- Dual-use items are goods and technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. 🛡️
- Dual-use export controls are necessary to prevent the supply of goods and technologies that may contribute to illegal weapons of mass destruction programmes. 🚫💣
- The US and India are holding a Strategic Trade Dialogue to enhance high technology commerce and facilitate technology transfer. 🤝💻
- The USISTD is a building block for the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). 🔨🆕
Why In News
Ahead of the first meeting of the US-India Strategic Trade Dialogue (USISTD), India and the United States (US) held talks regarding export control issues related to items of dual use. The talks aimed to address concerns around the misuse of dual-use items and technologies for military purposes, as well as to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of high technology commerce. With the US and India being major players in the technology sector, this initiative holds significant potential for fostering closer economic ties and sharing expertise in the development of critical and emerging technologies.
MCQs about US-India Strategic Trade Dialogue
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What are dual-use items?
A. Goods and technologies that may be used for both civilian and military purposes.
B. Items that can only be used for military purposes.
C. Items that can only be used for civilian purposes.
D. Goods and technologies that can only be exported to certain countries.
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What is the purpose of dual-use export controls?
A. To prevent the supply of goods and technologies that may contribute to illegal weapons of mass destruction programs.
B. To restrict the trade in cyber-surveillance systems.
C. To control the supply of goods and technologies that may be used for acts of terrorism or human rights abuses.
D. All of the above.
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What is the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue?
A. An initiative to deepen engagement around the area of aligning export controls and information sharing.
B. An official agreement to export dual-use items between India and the US.
C. A partnership to build a nuclear power plant in India.
D. A trade agreement focused solely on the export of technology from India to the US.
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What is the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)?
A. A dialogue between India and the US to enhance high technology commerce.
B. A partnership to explore ways of facilitating technology transfer between the two countries.
C. A building block for the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue.
D. All of the above.
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