The Trump Administration has overturned former President Joe Biden’s “90-day pause” on firearms exports, which has been in effect since March 2024.
The Revisions of Firearms License Requirements Final Rule, posted to the Federal Register on September 30 by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), rolls back the export restrictions for firearms and related ammunition and components. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the BIS determined that the Biden Administration’s Interim Final should be entirely rescinded.
Under the Biden Administration infringement, there were three new Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCN) for semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns. Licenses would only be approved on a case-by-case basis and considered foreign policy, national security risk factors, government corruption, diversion of firearms and human rights abuses among other criteria. Additionally, there was a presumption of denial for firearm export licenses to those countries arbitrarily identified by the State Department as “at risk,” which include 36 countries—mostly in Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asian countries.
In a news release praising the action, NSSF said the restriction was a costly one, and the recent change by the Trump Commerce Department was positive.
“NSSF worked diligently to ensure firearm, ammunition and components manufacturers and exporters were properly represented in opposing the IFR,” the news release stated. “NSSF worked closely with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the Trump Administration to remove these onerous, overreaching and punishing export restrictions that did not improve public safety in foreign countries and only served to starve U.S.-based businesses by eliminating the ability to compete in global markets. The Biden-era export restrictions cost the firearm industry an estimated $500 million in lost business annually.”
Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, expressed gratitude to the Trump Administration for putting an end to the restriction.
“The firearm industry is tremendously grateful to the Trump administration and BIS officials for their actions to restore American competitiveness in firearm manufacturing and exports to foreign countries,” Keane said. “American firearm manufacturing is the worldwide leader, and removing these restrictions will restore access to foreign markets while continuing to maintain adequate export controls to prevent illegal firearm trafficking.”
NSSF and other gun-rights organizations had been pushing to end the restriction through congressional action and other means. Shortly after the Biden Administration put the rule into effect, Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee filed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution of Disapproval to block the interim Final Rule. And earlier this year, 88 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting reversal of the policy.
Ultimately, the Final Rule by the Trump Administration’s BIS will remove unnecessary regulatory and financial burdens placed on the firearm industry, the American people and the U.S. economy.
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