US Entity List

US removed three Indian entities from its restrictive Entity List. These entities are  Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR), and Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)—from its Entity List.

• The Entity List, maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), includes foreign persons, businesses, and organizations subject to specific license requirements for the export, reexport, and/or transfer of specified items.
• Entities are added to the list for activities that pose significant risks to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, such as involvement in weapons of mass destruction programs or supporting terrorism.

The removal of BARC, IGCAR, and IREL from the Entity List is expected to enhance U.S.-India relations and energy cooperation, potentially revitalizing the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement of 2008.