Us Code § 4812 - Authority of the President
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 4812 — Authority of the President, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 4812. Authority of the President
(a) Authority
In order to carry out the policy set forth in paragraphs (1) through (10) of section 4811 of this title, the President shall control—
(1) the export, reexport, and in-country transfer of items subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, whether by United States persons or by foreign persons; and
(2) the activities of United States persons, wherever located, relating to specific—
(A) nuclear explosive devices;
(B) missiles;
(C) chemical or biological weapons;
(D) whole plants for chemical weapons precursors;
(E) foreign maritime nuclear projects; and
(F) foreign military, security, or intelligence services.
(b) Requirements
In exercising authority under this subchapter to carry out the policy set forth in paragraphs (1) through (10) of section 4811 of this title, the President shall—
(1) regulate the export, reexport, and in-country transfer of items described in subsection (a)(1) of United States persons or foreign persons;
(2) regulate the activities described in subsection (a)(2) of United States persons, wherever located;
(3) seek to secure the cooperation of other governments and multilateral organizations to impose control systems that are consistent, to the extent possible, with the controls imposed under subsection (a);
(4) maintain the leadership of the United States in science, engineering, technology research and development, manufacturing, and foundational technology that is essential to innovation;
(5) protect United States technological advances by prohibiting unauthorized technology transfers to foreign persons in the United States or outside the United States, particularly with respect to countries that may pose a significant threat to the national security of the United States;
(6) strengthen the United States industrial base, both with respect to current and future defense requirements; and
(7) enforce the controls through means such as regulations, requirements for compliance, lists of controlled items, lists of foreign persons who threaten the national security or foreign policy of the United States, and guidance in a form that facilitates compliance by United States persons and foreign persons, in particular academic institutions, scientific and research establishments, and small- and medium-sized businesses.
(c) Application of controls
The President shall impose controls over the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of items for purposes of the objectives described in subsections (b)(1) or (b)(2) without regard to the nature of the underlying transaction or any circumstances pertaining to the activity, including whether such export, reexport, or in-country transfer occurs pursuant to a purchase order or other contract requirement, voluntary decision, inter-company arrangement, marketing effort, or during a joint venture, joint development agreement, or similar collaborative agreement.
(Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, §1753, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2211; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LV, §5589(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3380.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this part", meaning part I (§§1751–1768) of subtitle B of title XVII of div. A of Pub. L. 115–232, known as the Export Controls Act of 2018, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of part I to the Code, see section 1751 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a Short Title note under section 4801 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (a)(2)(F). Pub. L. 117–263 inserted ", security, or" before "intelligence".
About This Section
50 U.S.C. § 4812 is part of Title 50 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 50 U.S.C. § 4812. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.