Country guidance

As a general matter, the Commerce Country Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738) reflects whether a license is required based on the reason for control of an item on the Commerce Control List and country of destination. Section 738.4 of the EAR provides instructions to determine whether a license is required using the Commerce Control List and Country Chart. 

You may also use our interactive tool for referencing reasons for control with the country of destination.

Note: 

• The Country Chart does not apply to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. For those countries you should review the provisions in parts 742 and/or 746 of the EAR.
• For Iraq and Russia, the Country Chart specifies the basis for certain license requirements, and part 746 of the EAR specifies additional requirements.
• Additionally, you must consult Section 746.6 in connection with licensing requirements that apply to certain “covered” regions of Ukraine.

For export control purposes, foreign countries are organized into four country groups designated by the letters A, B, D, and E.  A country’s placement into a country group is used to determine eligibility to use certain license exceptions in part 740 of the EAR. 

Country Groups are also referenced in parts 734, 742, 744, 746 and 748 of the EAR to determine licensing requirements for specified transactions.

• Country group A includes members of the four multilateral export control regimes and countries eligible to receive items under license exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA). 
• Country group B is eligible for several license exceptions, and they are subject to relatively less stringent license review policies. 
• Country group D identifies countries for specified proliferation concerns and those countries subject to U.S. arms embargoes. 
• Country group E lists terrorist supporting countries and those subject to a unilateral embargo. 

View country groups in supplement no. 1 to part 740 or try our interactive tool to  determine the applicable country group(s).

Since February 24, 2022, BIS has implemented a series of stringent export controls that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its brutal attack on Ukraine. These restrictions also apply to Belarus in response to its substantial enabling of Russia’s destabilizing conduct.  

Review recent press releases, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and compliance information on Russia and Belarus.