Exporting US defense tech just got more expensive for everyone

The US State Department has raised the fees for companies that register to export defense articles and services. This means every company that wants to sell US-made weapons or military technology abroad will pay more to the government.

The US government charges companies to register for permission to export defense technology. These fees have not changed since 2010. The new fee structure means smaller companies, or those with fewer export licenses, will see a much larger percentage increase in their costs. This could make it harder for smaller defense contractors to compete in the international market.