U.S. Government Makes It Easier for American Weapons Manufacturers To Sell Abroad

The Trump Administration introduced its latest plan to lift restrictions that limit U.S. weapons manufacturers from selling certain conventional weapons and drones directly to interested parties. The new Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) policy and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) export policy, allows private U.S. defense companies to directly sell some types of conventional weapons and a broader range of unmanned drones to allies without having to go through the U.S. government.

"The organizational culture of the Trump administration is 'Buy American. Hire American.' These are the two simple rules that President Trump has repeatedly stressed," according to Dr. Peter Navarro, Assistant to the President for Trade & Manufacturing Policy and Director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. "And be assured that this administration will be encouraging private defense industry to embrace those principles as it goes forward with its expanded opportunities," he said. "As President Trump works to balance our trade with the rest of the world, further strengthening a critical part of our export economy and defense industrial base is a logical and critical step."

The Trump administration highlights that the main aim is to help American defense firms compete against aggressive Russian and Chinese manufacturers and the policy change also ties in with the President’s aim to create manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Dr. Navarro, said the move was designed to reverse former president Barack Obama's "myopic" decision to limit even U.S. allies' access to drone technology.

The policy also calls for members of Trump's cabinet to sometimes act as closers to help seal major arms deals, according to people familiar with the matter. More top government officials will also be sent to promote U.S. weapons at international air shows and weapons fairs.

Numerous reports have noted that U.S. President Donald Trump in private phone calls and public appearances with world leaders, has personally intervened to act as a salesman for the U.S. defense industry. Trump's personal role underscores his determination to make the United States, already dominant in the global weapons trade, an even bigger arms merchant to the world, U.S. officials say, despite concerns from human rights and arms control advocates.

The policy change comes after the U.S. State Department set a new one-year record for clearing weapon sales, with $75.9 billion cleared by the department in fiscal 2017. That total covers all announced cleared weapons packages from October 1, 2016, through September 12, 2017.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2018 09:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).