What type of goods does the U.S Department of Commerce regulate?

The U.S. Department of Commerce regulates dual-use goods, which are items that can be used for both civilian and military applications. This category encompasses a wide range of products, including goods that might be used in commercial industries but also have the potential to be utilized in military applications or to contribute to the development of weapons.

Regulating dual-use goods is essential for national security and economic interests, ensuring that technologies and materials capable of being utilized for harmful purposes do not fall into the wrong hands. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce is specifically tasked with overseeing these regulations, which include licensing requirements for the export of dual-use items.

Other options focus on more specific categories of goods. Military equipment is regulated but falls under a different jurisdiction, while consumer goods and strictly technology exports may not encompass the broader scope of dual-use items, which include a range of products not exclusively limited to either category.