Any control involved in export trade has their export control laws in place to control the export of certain commodities and technologies for strategies reasons. Without the prior control of export control laws export business always face risks of inadvertent violations that might cause serious consequences and problems can occur in unlikely circumstances. Often the violators of such laws are subject to criminal and administrative penalties.

In United States, most of the commodities do not require export license however, for certain commodities and technologies lawful export license is required to carry out the export trade. Usually if the commodity that has to be exported is concerned with the national security, foreign policy, nuclear non-proliferation, missile development, aid in the development of chemical and biological weapons, regional stability, crime control and controlling international terrorism are concerned then they need prior licensing from the federal government.

The primary licensing responsibilities lies in the regime of Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, State Department and US Treasury Department. Exporters need to avail license for exporting commodities and technologies that are enlisted on Commerce Control List (CCL) administered by the Commerce Department or US Munitions List (USML) administered by the State Department.

The CCL generally has items to regulate the export of duel use items having legitimate commercial use and possible military use whereas, USML is used to control the export of defense articles and certain military specific services and technologies.

When the issue of export control laws arises then US Defense Department is actively involved in reviewing all the export items that are equally controlled by the CCL and USML. Nuclear Department is actively involved in controlling the export related to nuclear technology, nuclear material and technical data related to the use of nuclear technology. Treasury Department is involved in sanctioning economics and trade against certain suspicious foreign countries and their agents as well terrorists and terrorism sponsoring organizations and international narcotics traffickers.