The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is hailing the Revisions of Firearms License Requirements Final Rule posted in the Federal Register by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
The Final Rule rolls back the export restrictions for firearms and related ammunition and components. The BIS determined that the Interim Final Rule, published by the Biden administration, should – and will – be rescinded in its entirety.
NSSF, the firearm industry trade association, led the effort to repeal the export restrictions imposed by the Biden administration. NSSF worked diligently to ensure firearm, ammunition and components manufacturers and exporters were properly represented in opposing the IFR. NSSF worked closely with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the Trump administration to remove these onerous, overreaching and punishing export restrictions that did not improve public safety in foreign countries and only served to starve U.S.-based businesses by eliminating the ability to compete in global markets. The Biden-era export restrictions cost the firearm industry an estimated $500 million in lost business annually.
“The firearm industry is tremendously grateful to the Trump administration and BIS officials for their actions to restore American competitiveness in firearm manufacturing and exports to foreign countries,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “American firearm manufacturing is the worldwide leader and removing these restrictions will restore access to foreign markets while continuing to maintain adequate export controls to prevent illegal firearm trafficking.”
The Biden administration imposed the IFR in 2024, throttling firearm, ammunition and component exports to foreign markets. That followed a “90-day pause” that froze all exports to examine export licenses, which was extended to more than six months to allow for review. The result was a decimation of the Export Control Reforms that were initiated by the Obama administration and completed by the Trump administration.
The Final Rule by the Trump administration’s BIS will remove unnecessary regulatory and financial burdens placed on the firearm industry, the American people and the U.S. economy. The Final Rule will restore firearm exports back to a four-year lifespan. Those licenses were restricted to just one year under the Biden administration’s IFR. Also eliminated is the “presumption of denial” licensing policy for commercial sales to 36 countries arbitrarily identified by the State Department as “at risk.” Additionally, the case-by-case license review basis that considered human rights over foreign policy and national security factors, will end. BIS has reverted to the licensing policies in place prior to the 2024 IFR.
The Final Rule clearly indicates that proper export controls will be administered. The Final Rule notes it gives, “…BIS and its interagency partners sufficient latitude to review and properly adjudicate BIS licenses involving destinations, end uses, or end users of concern and to deny license applications that would involve unlawful end uses or otherwise be contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.”
