Export compliance basics

Read this first if export control is new

Trade assumes you will adjudicate holds and document rationale. This guide defines product terms only — your Empowered Official and counsel own regulatory interpretation.

Words you will see every day

• Transaction — one order/shipment line under review (parties, destination, classification, value).
• Screening hit — possible list match; requires human adjudication, not an automatic violation.
• Disposition — cleared, needs review, on hold, released, cancelled.
• Classification — ECCN/HTS and related fields; missing data blocks certification.
• Active license — on-file authorization with remaining capacity; drawdown records use.
• License application — in-product draft and EO approval; regulator filing is manual.
• Evidence pack — regenerated audit bundle for a transaction ID.

What Trade does not do

• File to BIS, DDTC, OFAC, or AES/ITN.
• Replace your ERP or shipping execution system.
• Auto-clear screening hits without a documented human decision.

Next step

Open Start here by role for your first-week checklist, then use the Guide button on each workspace.

1234

1. 1Sidebar — Transactions selected
2. 2Filter bar
3. 3Disposition badges
4. 4Row state indicator

In the browser

• Open this article from /help or press ? on Dashboard and search “basics”.
• Skim Words you will see every day — you will match these labels on Transactions rows.
• Open Transactions from the sidebar and find disposition badges on the list.
• Click one order number — on detail, locate Trade context and screening sections.