---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 4812"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "4812"
heading: "Authority of the President"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/4812"
units:
  - "Chapter 58 — Export Control Reform"
  - "Subchapter I — Authority and Administration of Controls"
---

# §4812. Authority of the President

- (a) **Authority—** In order to carry out the policy set forth in paragraphs (1) through (10) of [section 4811 of this title](/usc/50/4811.md), the President shall control—
  - (1) the [export](/usc/50/4801.md?p=3), [reexport](/usc/50/4801.md?p=9), and [in-country transfer](/usc/50/4801.md?p=6) of items subject to the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12), whether by [United States persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=13) or by [foreign persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=5); and
  - (2) the activities of [United States persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=13), wherever located, relating to specific—
    - (A) nuclear explosive devices;
    - (B) missiles;
    - (C) chemical or biological weapons;
    - (D) whole plants for chemical weapons precursors;
    - (E) foreign maritime nuclear projects; and
    - (F) foreign military, security, or intelligence services.
- (b) **Requirements—** In exercising authority under this subchapter to carry out the policy set forth in paragraphs (1) through (10) of [section 4811 of this title](/usc/50/4811.md), the President shall—
  - (1) regulate the [export](/usc/50/4801.md?p=3), [reexport](/usc/50/4801.md?p=9), and [in-country transfer](/usc/50/4801.md?p=6) of items described in [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) of [United States persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=13) or [foreign persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=5);
  - (2) regulate the activities described in [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) of [United States persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=13), wherever located;
  - (3) seek to secure the cooperation of other governments and multilateral organizations to impose control systems that are consistent, to the extent possible, with the controls imposed under [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (4) maintain the leadership of the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12) in science, engineering, [technology](/usc/50/4801.md?p=11) research and development, manufacturing, and foundational [technology](/usc/50/4801.md?p=11) that is essential to innovation;
  - (5) protect [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12) technological advances by prohibiting unauthorized [technology](/usc/50/4801.md?p=11) transfers to [foreign persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=5) in the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12) or outside the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12), particularly with respect to countries that may pose a significant threat to the national security of the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12);
  - (6) strengthen the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12) industrial base, both with respect to current and future defense requirements; and
  - (7) enforce the controls through means such as regulations, requirements for compliance, lists of [controlled](/usc/50/4801.md?p=1) items, lists of [foreign persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=5) who threaten the national security or foreign policy of the [United States](/usc/50/4801.md?p=12), and guidance in a form that facilitates compliance by [United States persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=13) and [foreign persons](/usc/50/4801.md?p=5), in particular academic institutions, scientific and research establishments, and small- and medium-sized businesses.
- (c) **Application of controls—** The President shall impose controls over the [export](/usc/50/4801.md?p=3), [reexport](/usc/50/4801.md?p=9), or [in-country transfer](/usc/50/4801.md?p=6) of items for purposes of the objectives described in subsections [(b)(1)](#b-1) or [(b)(2)](#b-2) without regard to the nature of the underlying transaction or any circumstances pertaining to the activity, including whether such [export](/usc/50/4801.md?p=3), [reexport](/usc/50/4801.md?p=9), or [in-country transfer](/usc/50/4801.md?p=6) occurs pursuant to a purchase order or other contract requirement, voluntary decision, inter-company arrangement, marketing effort, or during a joint venture, joint development agreement, or similar collaborative agreement.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, § 1753, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2211; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LV, § 5589(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3380.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this part”, meaning part I (§§ 1751–1768) of subtitle B of title XVII of div. A of Pub. L. 115–232, known as the Export Controls Act of 2018, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of part I to the Code, see section 1751 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a Short Title note under section 4801 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a)(2)(F). Pub. L. 117–263 inserted “, security, or” before “intelligence”.