# Can a US weapons manufacturer choose NOT to sell to the US Military & only sell internationally? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007 "2013-06-14T18:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/1 "2013-06-14T18:02:50Z")
Say a US based weapons manufacturer feels he was dealt a raw hand by the US military in his past dealings with them, and he has determined to only sell his weapons to non-US countries. Is there any law preventing him from doing so? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/2 "2013-06-14T18:31:13Z")
Treason, perhaps? 😃 Seriously, you require an export license to do it. If you don’t, you are in trouble, … big time. [Case in point](http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1207/120713seattle.htm). FYI, here is the [Department of Commence control list](http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c5cc9a1c749a6f225283bdfa124431d0&rgn=div9&view=text&node=15:2.1.3.4.45.0.1.3.87&idno=15). From the Department of State site there are the [International Traffic in Arms Regulations](http://pmddtc.state.gov/regulations_laws/itar_official.html) (ITAR). Other agencies may have their own lists, including DOD. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/3 "2013-06-14T18:42:49Z")
There have been weapon systems designed specifically for export. The F5 fighter for instance and the failed F20. So, I do believe it’s possible to rely on overseas sales. If a US manufacturer wanted to only make certain types of weapons, a conventional submarine for instance, they could only sell the, overseas. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/4 "2013-06-14T18:44:56Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Treason, perhaps? > > 😃 > > Seriously, you require an export license to do it. If you don’t, you are in trouble, … big time. [Case in point](http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1207/120713seattle.htm). > > FYI, here is the [Department of Commence control list](http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c5cc9a1c749a6f225283bdfa124431d0&rgn=div9&view=text&node=15:2.1.3.4.45.0.1.3.87&idno=15). From the Department of State site there are the [International Traffic in Arms Regulations](http://pmddtc.state.gov/regulations_laws/itar_official.html) (ITAR). Other agencies may have their own lists, including DOD. Yes, but if you don’t violate ITAR, it isn’t a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/5 "2013-06-14T20:31:40Z")
As other have said, your ability to (legally) sell your weapons to other countries has nothing to do with your US military sales. It has everything to do with ITAR. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/6 "2013-06-15T00:23:24Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Yes, but if you don’t violate ITAR, it isn’t a problem. I’m having trouble thinking of weapons that aren’t subject to ITAR. If a defense company makes things that aren’t subject to ITAR, they aren’t much of a defense company. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/7 "2013-06-15T00:48:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m having trouble thinking of weapons that aren’t subject to ITAR. If a defense company makes things that aren’t subject to ITAR, they aren’t much of a defense company. I guess that I didn’t put that very well. Yes, all weapons are subject to ITAR and a lot of non-weapons are subject to it as well depending on the technology that they use. Some things that are sold as commercial products still can’t be sold into certain countries or not without modification. What I meant was as long as you don’t violate the rules of ITAR, you can cell certain defense materials to certain countries. Some countries get the best stuff, some the lesser stuff and some not at all. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/8 "2013-06-15T02:39:57Z")
And ITAR _doesn’t_ say you have to sell to the U. S. military as far as I am aware. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-weapons-manufacturer-choose-not-to-sell-to-the-us-military-only-sell-internationally/661007/9 "2013-06-15T04:09:47Z")
I don’t think the US Gumment can MAKE a company bid on a RFP (Request For Proposal).