🇺🇸 A European manufacturer designs a piece of military equipment that is 100% made in Europe.
But to speed up production, they purchase a few ultra-resistant screws from the United States.
The problem: these screws are ITAR-classified, meaning they fall under the American regulation that controls the export of military materials.
👉 The result: as soon as an ITAR-controlled part is integrated, the entire system is considered subject to U.S. rules.
The device therefore finds itself, in a sense, placed under American regulatory control.
The consequence: to export this equipment to an allied country, the manufacturer must obtain authorization from the U.S. Department of State. Without this approval, the equipment cannot be sold abroad.
This is what is commonly known as the ITAR effect: a single controlled component can place an entire system under U.S. regulation.