The United States maintains a comprehensive system of export controls over hardware, software and technology pursuant to various laws. Exports of civilian and "dual use" (not principally for military use) items must comply with the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, and Export Administration Regulations thereunder, which are administered by the Bureau of Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S. export control requirements have been steadily relaxed during the past decade as the U.S. perspective of the geopolitical situation has changed from a U.S. vs. USSR cold war (sometimes referred to by U.S. export control policymakers as an "East-West" conflict) to a U.S. vs. terrorist countries (sometimes referred to as a "North-South" conflict). Although the U.S. continues to impose specific controls on the export of most encryption items, these controls were substantially relaxed in regulatory amendments issued in January and October, 2000. The following powerpoint
