Export Controls refers to a variety of U.S. federal laws and regulations controlling what commodities, technologies, software, and services may be sent to non-U.S. locations or disclosed to non-U.S. persons. The purpose of these is to protect U.S. national security and non-U.S. policy interests from malign non-U.S. actors who may wish to access our most advanced and useful technologies.

Not entirely. While there are some important “carve-outs” from these rules for institutions of higher learning in the U.S. (see here), export controls can and do apply to a variety of common activities occurring within the research enterprise at WCM and elsewhere.

International shipping, travel to non-U.S. locations, or even hosting non-U.S. national visitors can all have potential export controls implications for you and WCM.

The FRE is one of the useful carve-outs afforded to academia with regards to export controls in the U.S. If your work qualifies as fundamental research (no barriers to publication or participation in the research efforts) then the results of such research are NOT subject to export controls requirements.

WCM only conducts research that would fall under the FRE. Research projects that do not permit the free and open publication of results are not accepted at WCM. Therefore no export-controlled or classified work may be conducted here. Refer to University Policy 4.22.

Great effort is put into ensuring sponsored research at WCM does not come with problematic clauses or restrictions that would negate the FRE – and thus subject the products of our research work to export controls.

No, only non-tangible research results in the form of technology are excluded under the FRE. Physical items will always remain subject to U.S. export controls. Depending on various factors a license may be required to physically export an item.

The item would still be subject to export controls (and potential licensing) regardless of whether it was the result of fundamental research. As stated above, the FRE never exempts physical items from export control.

While your research results will be exempt from export controls under the FRE, any proprietary data provided to you from outside of WCM may be subject to export controls. All such transfers of data to WCM need to be governed by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) negotiated by the Office of Sponsored Research Administration (OSRA) with input from the WCM Export Controls Office (ECO).

Correct; regardless of whether you’re selling any items to the recipient overseas you are engaging in an export activity by sending something out of the U.S.

Temporary international shipments are still considered exports and must comply with all applicable regulations. There are however certain cases where a temporary export may not require an export license. The WCM Export Controls Office will assist in making this determination.

Yes, anytime you bring WCM-owned items with you during international travel (whether in checked or carry-on luggage or on your person) you have just exported such items to your country of destination and any other countries you transited. Export controls regulations and licensing requirements apply equally to such hand-carried exports (although more exemptions may apply for travel than shipping).

Many factors play into that but, for most standard-issued WCM devices you would not require a license to most countries. However, if there is any proprietary technical data on the device, or if it contains software programs other than those normally installed by the manufacturer or WCM IT (e.g. MS Office, etc.) than those may trigger the need for an export license. Additionally, the destination you travel could play a role in the determination process.

Please contact the WCM Export Controls Office at exportcontrols@med.cornell.edu if you have any questions. 

Yes, currently the following countries/territories are subject to comprehensive trade embargoes and sanctions:

• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria
• Certain regions of Ukraine

Nearly all activities with or within these locations (including with universities in these locations) will require US government approval and must be discussed with the WCM Export Controls Office first.

Depending on the nature of your research there may be other country-specific restrictions or considerations to take into account.

Yes, the U.S. government maintains various lists of so-called “Restricted Parties”. Such entities are either prohibited from being involved in export transactions generally, or are sanctioned to the extent that any interaction with them would be prohibited without a license. Contact the WCM Export Controls Office at exportcontrols@med.cornell.edu for screening of any non- U.S. entities you may wish to collaborate or engage with.

Additionally, there are certain entities that WCM will not allow collaboration with regardless of discipline or circumstances.

An export license is specific authorization from the US government to engage in an export or sanctions activity that would otherwise be prohibited. These licenses must be obtained beforehand and are situation-specific (i.e. no “blanket licenses” can be obtained for your lab).

All export or sanctions licenses at WCM must be obtained via the WCM Export Controls Office (ECO).

Any person who is not either:

1. A U.S. Citizen,
2. A U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. a green card holder), or
3. A person offered Protected Status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)…

is considered a non-U.S. national for the purposes of exports controls regulations. Also, employees of non-U.S. entities (including U.S. persons) are treated as non-U.S. nationals no matter where located.

Perhaps, this will depend on many factors. Generally-speaking having a non-U.S. national visiting or working in your lab does not alone necessitate the need for an export license. There would need to be an actual release of export-controlled technology or software to the non-U.S. national (i.e. a deemed export).

If you plan on sharing any information or software with them that is NOT already published and in the public domain, it is possible an export license could be required. Similarly, if you have export-controlled items in your lab and the non-U.S. national requires direct access to them, it is possible a license is needed for that activity – further analysis by the WCM Export Controls Office is necessary.

Also, keep in mind that if your visitor needs to take items from your lab back out of the country with them, this is an export that may require licensing.

Yes, the source of funding is not always a proper gauge of whether or not your project could be affected by export controls regulations. There are DOD-funded projects for which export controls are not a factor and conversely, certain non DOD-funded projects are affected by export controls

Yes, there are prohibitions on providing services (such as lectures or speeches) while in Iran due to the sanctions on that nation. The WCM Export Controls Office should be consulted immediately if you are invited to attend any event in Iran, or if you are considering similar activities in that country.