COMMERCE PROVIDES RELIEF FOR EXPORTERS
WITH SIX-MONTH EXTENSION ON LICENSES
New Streamlined Process Designed to Hasten Approvals
Recognizing the importance of exports during this time of economic transition and
recovery, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in the U.S. Department of Commerce
is highlighting the opportunity for exporters to request six-month validity period
extensions for licenses due to expire on or before December 31, 2020.
“With the majority of the world’s consumers located outside of the United States, exports
are a vital source of growth and revenue for American companies,” said Acting Under
Secretary for Industry and Security, Cordell Hull. “President Trump and the Department
of Commerce are committed to cutting red tape and making it easier for exporters to
drive our Nation’s economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.”
BIS will streamline the extension of the validity process by creating a central electronic
mailbox for submission of requests: LicenseExtensionRequest@bis.doc.gov. The
original license will be reviewed and, in most cases, the validity extended via the
electronic system. Depending on the number of requests received, it is estimated that the
majority of extension validity requests will be processed and approved within two to
three business days.
“The streamlined process will help ensure that exporters with licenses due to expire on or
before the end of 2020, who may not have been able to ship orders due to resource
constraints during the pandemic, have the opportunity to benefit fully from the
authorizations granted on their licenses,” said Hull. “The Trump Administration is
focused on easing the way for American businesses to export during this crucial time.”