U.S. set to lift ban after 13 years

The US has set in motion regulatory changes to lift the ban on India’s frontline technology establishments, Isro and DRDO, and their removal from the entities list could come soon, top American officials have indicated. A formal notification from the US department of commerce for this is in advanced stage, they said. “These regulatory changes will begin the transformation of the bilateral export control policies to realise the full potential of the strategic partnership between our two countries,” Eric Hirschhorn, undersecretary for industry and security, US department of commerce, said. But he did not give any timeline for the removal of restrictions, which is eagerly awaited in India. Official sources said a formal notification could well be issued before the scheduled India visit of commerce secretary Gary Locke from February 6 to 11. The US imposed curbs in the wake of nuclear tests carried out by India in 1998. Obama, during his India visit, had assured India that he would remove these companies from the entities list. Bharat Dynamics Ltd;
DRDO’s arms — Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE),
Defence Research and Development Lab (DRDL), Missile Research and Development Complex; Solid State Physics Laboratory;
Isro’s four four subordinates — Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant, Sriharikota Space Centre, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.