In a bid to ease export controls for high technology product, USA has decided to place India in the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) list. USA had already recognised India as major defence partner in 2016.
Addition to Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) list will make India the only south Asian nation to be given the designation along with the US' NATO allies like South Korea, Australia and Japan.
What is STA status ?
STA status is a license exemption that allows US to export a set of items listed on the Commerce Control List under defined conditions without a transaction-specific licence.
USA can export, re-export and transfer technology to a STA status country without a licence required under the Export Administration Regulations. Export Administration Regulations is one of the two important US export control laws that affect the manufacturing, sales and distribution of technology.
STA-1 benefits for India
By securing STA Tier 1, India will get comparable treatment as NATO allies and it will expand the scope of exports subject to the EAR that can be made to India without individual licences.
In simple words, the move will make USA to ease export controls for high technology product sales to India, granting it the same access as NATO allies ? Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Items included in STA -1
Items eligible for export to STA-1 nations includes chemical or biological weapons, nuclear non-proliferation, regional stability, crime control and items under control for national security.
The list also include electronics, lasers and sensors, information security, computers and electronics, navigation, telecommunications, aerospace, etc.
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