Washington Speeds Up ITAR Export-Control Easing Between AUKUS Allies for Defense AI
The U.S. Departments of Commerce and State continue easing export controls (ITAR) between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, while the FY2026 NDAA confirms a lasting legislative shift — a move that directly shapes who gets access to allied defense-AI technology, and who is left out.
The U.S. Departments of Commerce and State "have been continuously easing restrictions on export-controlled trade between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia to foster technological innovation," according to a recent review of specialized AI/defense legal commentary. The move sits within AUKUS Pillar II, dedicated to sharing advanced technology — including autonomy and AI — among the three countries.
The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reinforces the trend: the same review notes it "reflects a continued and deliberate shift in how Congress uses defense authorization legislation," a signal of a structural move rather than a one-off relaxation.
Historically, ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) has been cited by the defense industry as one of the main brakes on allied industrial collaboration on dual-use technology — a European or even British contractor typically needing a U.S. export license before co-developing or receiving a U.S.-origin AI or autonomous component.
Cardan-AI take: the real question isn't only whether export controls are loosening, but what that easing — confined to the AUKUS circle — mechanically produces for allies left outside it: France, the rest of the EU, Japan. Our full analysis applies the gravity model of trade (Anderson & van Wincoop) to answer it.
Analysis by
Cardan-AI Intelligence
Our research and analysis unit, dedicated to applied AI for business, industry and regulatory compliance.
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