Title 22 › CHAPTER 39 — ARMS EXPORT CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER VII — CONTROL OF MISSILES AND MISSILE EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY › § 2797c
Defines words used to control exports and transfers of missile-related items. "Missile" means an MTCR Annex category I system, similar unmanned delivery systems, and the special factories that make them. "Missile Technology Control Regime" or "MTCR" means the policy announced April 16, 1987 by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Japan to limit sensitive missile transfers based on the MTCR Annex. "MTCR adherent" means a country that takes part in the MTCR or that, under an international agreement the United States is part of, controls MTCR equipment or technology by the MTCR standards. "MTCR Annex" means the MTCR Guidelines and Equipment and Technology Annex. "Missile equipment or technology" or "MTCR equipment or technology" means items listed in category I or II of that Annex. "United States person" has the meaning in 50 U.S.C. 4618(2). "Foreign person" means anyone who is not a U.S. person. "Person" includes people, businesses, organizations, and similar entities; for non‑market economy countries (excluding former Warsaw Pact members) it also covers all government activities that affect missile equipment or the development or production of electronics, space systems, or military aircraft. "Otherwise engaged in the trade of" means, for a specific export or transfer, acting as a freight forwarder, designated exporting agent, consignee, or end user. For agreements made after January 1, 2000, "international understanding" means either a specific promise by a country not to export or transfer MTCR equipment or technology that would help a non‑adherent country acquire or build missiles and that, if it were U.S.‑origin, would fall under U.S. jurisdiction; or a specific promise that the United States keeps the right to act under section 2797b(a)(2) despite section 2797b(b).
Full Legal Text
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 2797c
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110