By Karen Freifeld
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration is easing export restrictions on U.S. commercial space companies to ship certain satellite and spacecraft-related items to allies and partners on Thursday, two people familiar with the matter said.
The changes are intended to make it easier for the growing U.S. commercial space industry to expand sales while also protecting national security and foreign policy interests.
Certain items involving remote sensing spacecraft or space-based logistics assembly, and servicing spacecraft will no longer need licenses for shipment to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, one person said.
Some less sensitive satellite and spacecraft parts and components will no longer require licenses for shipment to over 40 countries, the person said. The countries include Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and most of the European Union, the second person said.
