However, Congress would need to approve the creation of a single export licensing agency and the consolidation of enforcement authority.

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And because the manuscript had been in Britain for less the 50 years there would have been no recourse to the Export Licensing Committee to stop that from happening.

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DCMS, which will be led by Tessa Jowell, also covers the National Lottery, export licensing of cultural goods, broadcasting (it oversees the BBC's licence fee settlement) film, press freedom and tourism.

BBC: Tessa Blackstone

And the prime minister addressed "squeamish" critics of his trade missions aimed at selling UK defence equipment, saying it has "the most rigorous arms export licensing regime in the whole world - and that is how it will stay".

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U.S. export laws already require licensing for the sale or export of certain electronic surveillance technology overseas.

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The Bureau of Industry and Security is in charge of licensing the sale of five-axis machine tools for export.

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The Center for Security Policy believes that it is incumbent on the Bush Administration to "stand-down" on further weakening of the U.S. and multilateral export control regime pending a complete reassessment of the present policy approach and rampant mismanagement of licensing decisions.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Could The US Really Be Agreeing In Paris To Weaker Export Controls After Iraqi Fiascoes?