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EO 13020Executive OrderClinton · D

Executive Order 13020

Amendment to Executive Order 12981

This executive order amends Executive Order 12981 to change how license applications are reviewed for commercial communication satellites and hot-section aircraft engine technologies transferred from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List. It replaces the Chair's individual decision with a majority vote by the Operating Committee (OC) and the Advisory Committee on Export Policy (ACEP), and specifies new appeal timelines for these categories of exports.

Federal Register Open PDF 61 FR 54079

Impact dates

  1. OC Chair informs departments/agencies of majority vote decision within 14 days after deadline for receiving recommendations

  2. ACEP Chair informs parties of majority vote decision within 11 days from receiving appeal notice

  3. Department/agency must appeal OC decision to ACEP within 5 days

  4. Dissenting department/agency may appeal ACEP decision within 5 days of majority vote

  5. Secretary may call meeting within 5 days of ACEP majority vote decision

  6. EO effective immediately

Key directives

  • Chair of OC must inform departments/agencies of majority vote decision (not individual decision) for satellite and hot-section technology licenses
  • appeals to ACEP must be made within 5 days of OC decision
  • ACEP Chair must inform parties of majority vote decision within 11 days of receiving appeal notice
  • dissenting departments/agencies may appeal ACEP decision within 5 days of majority vote
  • Secretary may call meeting on own initiative within same 5-day period

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO effective immediately upon signing (October 12, 1996)
  • new majority vote procedures apply to satellite and hot-section technology license applications

Near term (90d)

  • Departments of Commerce and State to issue regulations transferring specified items from USML to CCL

Long term

  • ongoing changed interagency review process for affected export categories
  • potential shift in balance of export control decision-making from individual chair authority to collective committee votes

Risks & tensions

  • Vague: exact calendar for '14 days after deadline for receiving recommendations' depends on unspecified recommendation deadline
  • Majority vote may reduce accountability compared to named Chair decision
  • Judicial review bar (Section 2) eliminates recourse for affected exporters
  • Interagency disagreements over satellite/engine technology exports historically contentious; procedural change may shift substantive outcomes without transparent policy rationale
Executive Order 13020: Amendment to Executive Order 12981 · Executive Orders