WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) rescinded an interim final rule (Firearms IFR) issued by the Biden Administration, which imposed onerous export controls on civilian firearms and related ammunition and components. The rescission of the Firearms IFR will allow U.S. firearms manufacturers to compete in overseas markets, creating hundreds of millions of dollars per year in export opportunities.

The now-defunct Biden-era Firearms IFR imposed a range of excessive and burdensome requirements, including:

•    A “presumption of denial” for civilian firearms exports to 36 supposedly “high-risk” countries – effectively ceding overseas markets to foreign firearms manufacturers, with no benefit to national security. 
•    Export license requirements on sporting shotguns and optics to U.S. allies – despite no evidence of any national security risk. 
•    Bureaucratic hurdles on firearms export licenses, such as extensive documentation requirements and short validity periods.

Today’s rule revokes these requirements and restores the export rules for civilian firearms that existed under the first Trump Administration.  Under these rules, exports of most pistols, rifles, and non-long-barrel shotguns will remain subject to a worldwide export license requirement. Long-barrel shotguns and most optics can be exported without a license to U.S. allies and certain partners. License application paperwork requirements for firearms will be streamlined and consistent with normal BIS practice. BIS and interagency partners will continue to screen firearms license applications to reduce the risk of weapons ending up in the hands of wrongdoers.

Jeffrey I. Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, stated:

“BIS strongly rejects the Biden Administration’s war on the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearms users.  With today’s rule, BIS is restoring common sense to export controls and doing right by America’s proud firearms industry, while also continuing to protect national security.”

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