NTE 2025/32: UK accedes to the agreement on defence export controls

Published 11 December 2025

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Purpose of the agreement
3. Guidance for exporters
4. View the agreement
5. Contact Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU)
6. Subscribe to notices to exporters

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Introduction

The UK has formally acceded to the Agreement on Defence Export Controls, joining France, Germany, and Spain as parties.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) leads on this agreement and has confirmed our formal accession in a written ministerial statement. They also issued a press release.

Purpose of the agreement

The agreement is designed to promote closer integration of defence industries across the contracting parties and streamline export controls for defence-related products, through the following articles.

Article 1: facilitating intergovernmental partnerships

Article 1 supports defence partnerships, including by ensuring no party blocks exports of jointly produced equipment on purely political grounds, where it cannot cite an impact on direct interests or national security.

Article 2: streamlining licensing processes for joint industrial programmes

Article 2 reduces risks to exporters within joint defence programmes by enhancing co-operation and requiring consultation (for example, on licence refusals) in certain circumstances.

Article 3: simplifying licensing processes for supply chain activities

Article 3 includes a ‘de minimis’ principle, applying when the value of defence-related components from one or more contracting parties in a final system exported by another is below 20%.

The agreement provides a mechanism for consultation and resolution of potential issues, ensuring smoother export processes. It does not override our international obligations, or supersede our export control regulations or decision-making processes.

Guidance for exporters

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) will be publishing guidance for exporters on the agreement and on how to submit licence applications for consideration against the relevant articles of the agreement. This will include a template for an integration certificate to support exports under Article 3.

In due course we will publish an open general export licence (OGEL) to further simply exports under Article 3 of the agreement.

View the agreement

View an English translation of the agreement and its annexes.

Contact Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU)

General queries about strategic export licensing

Export Control Joint Unit
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY

Email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7215 4594