news and events

 Signed today by Prime Minister Blair and President Bush, the UK-US Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty will allow goods, services and information intended for use by the authorities of the two countries to be exchanged without requiring an export licence.

After many years of negotiation and debate about improving the efficiency of technology transfer between the two countries, the UK and the US have agreed a treaty which should make a dramatic improvement in this area.  Signed today by Prime Minister Blair and President Bush, the UK-US Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty will allow goods, services and information intended for use by the authorities of the two countries to be exchanged without requiring an export licence.  Material coming into the UK under this arrangement will be classified as a minimum “ Restricted- US Military List” and will therefore be subject to the terms of the Official Secrets Act, including its penalties for unauthorised disclosure. Both sides will need to ratify the treaty and in the US this will require Senate approval.  But it is hoped that the Treaty could come into force at the end of the year.  Press releases concerning the Treaty and background information on key points can be seen below.

20070621 DIC statement.pdf

20070621 US UK Tech Share PM-President press release.pdf