NDIA Releases White Paper Calling for Overhaul of U.S. Defense Trade Policies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARLINGTON, VA – The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) has issued a new white paper calling for proactive reforms to U.S. defense trade policies that will promote innovation, reinforce alliances, and bolster national security.
The paper, submitted to the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Foreign Arms Sales Task Force, outlines a series of actionable recommendations to modernize the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, streamline export licensing, and remove unnecessary regulatory barriers that delay delivery of defense capabilities to U.S. allies and partners.
Key Recommendations Include:
- Moving to a single export licensing agency to reduce confusion and delays.
- Modernizing the FMS-only list to allow more direct commercial sales and faster delivery of defense systems.
- Streamlining rules under AUKUS, export thresholds, and the technology security and foreign disclosure process.
- Expanding access to foreign military financing for partners in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Europe.
The white paper draws on insights from NDIA’s Vital Signs 2025 report, which found that companies identify International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and FMS timelines as top barriers to working with U.S. allies.
NDIA represents more than 1,700 companies and over 65,500 individuals across the defense and national security community.
Click here to read the white paper.
Contact:
Rachel Sutherland
NDIA Director of PR & Communications
rsutherland@NDIA.org