On December 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued a final rule amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to implement and refine the exemptions for defense trade and cooperation among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The rule took effect the same day and updated the August 2024 interim final rule that first codified the AUKUS ITAR exemption.
Key changes in the final rule included adding Australian and U.K. government departments and agencies as authorized transferors, recipients, or brokers under ITAR Section 126.7. A new provision at Section 126.7(c)-(d) authorized certain reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports of defense articles to support the armed forces of the AUKUS partners wherever located, subject to limitations.
The Excluded Technology List, which identifies defense articles not eligible for the exemption, was not expanded or limited in the final rule. The Department confirmed it would review the list annually. Quantum technologies subject to ITAR remain within the scope of the exemption for transfers among authorized users in AUKUS countries, subject to any items on the Excluded Technology List.