Mennonite
Central
Committee

U.S. Congress approves one-year export ban on cluster munitions

January 16, 2008

On December 20, 2007 the President signed legislation that effectively ends the export of cluster munitions from the U.S. during fy 2008.

Specifically, the Omnibus Appropriations Act prohibits the export of cluster munitions during FY 2008 that have a higher than 1% failure rate. In addition, cluster munitions may be exported only if the receiving country agrees that they will not use cluster munitions in civilian areas.

Most of the 750 million cluster bomblets in the U.S. stockpile have high failure rates, so the one-year ban on exports is fairly comprehensive. This one-year ban, however, does not prohibit or restrict the U.S.’s own use of cluster munitions in any way.

Congressional legislation on cluster munitions sits in committee

The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (H.R. 1755 and S.594), introduced into the House and Senate in early 2007 would not only restrict the export of cluster munitions unless the above conditions were met, but it would also prohibit the U.S. from using cluster munitions unless these standards are met.  These bills would extend the prohibitions on use and export indefinitely. 

These bills include a presidential waiver, meaning that the president can waive the restrictions if he/she determines that it is in the interest of national security to do so.

These bills are currently in committees. For updates on their status, type in the bill numbers at: The Library of Congress - Thomas.