Export Promotion:

The Export-Import Bank's Financing of Dual-Use Exports

GAO-08-1182R, Sep 30, 2008

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Since October 1994, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im) has had statutory authority to provide loans, guarantees, and insurance to help finance U.S. exports of dual-use (military and civilian) defense articles and services, provided that it determines these items are nonlethal and meant primarily for civilian use. These dual-use exports include such items as vehicles that are primarily used by the military for civilian or humanitarian purposes. Legislation providing this authority also requires us to report annually on the end uses of the dual-use exports financed by Ex-Im during the second preceding fiscal year--which, for the purposes of this letter, corresponds to 2006.

Ex-Im did not finance any dual-use export projects in fiscal year 2006. According to an Ex-Im official, the Vice President of the Engineering and Environment Division, and our review of relevant data on Ex-Im authorizations, Ex-Im last financed dual-use items in fiscal year 2002.