Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

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Missile Technology Control Regime

(MTCR)
Encyclopdia Britannica Article

an informal association of countries dedicated to nonproliferation of

unmanned weapons systems capable of delivering weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). The members (called partners) of the Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR) also seek to coordinate national laws
relating to the licensing of such systems for export to other countries.

Founded in 1987 by Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy,

Japan, and the United States, the MTCR was created partly in response to
the proliferation of WMD during the preceding two decades. At that time,
the primary concern among nonproliferation advocates was the growth of
state-owned stockpiles of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons.
Subsequently, the number of members and the focus of the MTCR
broadened. By 2014, 34 countries had joined the association. After the
September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., in 2001, the
MTCR placed greater emphasis on preventing WMD-delivery systems from
falling into the hands of terrorists.

The MTCR met annually to evaluate results and to discuss recent

developments. The organization's effectiveness was somewhat hampered
by conflicting national policies (or the lack of such policies) concerning the
licensing of the systems for export. To help surmount those difficulties, all
members of the MTCR, as well as some nonmember states, determined the
criteria that should be used to control exports of certain goods, materials,
technology, and software and voluntarily introduced export-licensing
measures on rockets and other unmanned airborne delivery systems and
related equipment.

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12/1/2015 8:26 PM