The Trump administration has returned to its earlier stance on the export of civilian firearms, lifting restrictions imposed during Joe Biden’s presidency. These restrictions barred the export of firearms to 36 high-risk nations due to concerns about weapons falling into the hands of criminals and terrorists. This policy shift opens new international markets for U.S. firearms manufacturers, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars in yearly exports.
This decision is in line with former President Donald Trump’s views on gun ownership and his opposition to gun control reforms. The Biden administration’s restrictions, introduced in April 2024, aimed to prevent firearms from reaching drug cartels and criminal groups and were estimated to reduce U.S. firearms exports by about $40 million annually.
Major U.S. firearms manufacturers, such as Sturm, Ruger & Co and Smith & Wesson Brands, are expected to benefit significantly from this policy reversal. Commerce Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler has labeled the Biden administration’s regulations as “onerous,” defending the rights of lawful gun owners and criticizing policies he perceived as infringing on the Second Amendment.
The shift marks a return to policies from Trump’s first term, where oversight of commercial firearm exports was transferred from the State Department to the Commerce Department to streamline the process for U.S. manufacturers. This change is a clear departure from Biden’s approach, which incorporated additional documentation and reduced license validity for countries with less developed export control systems.
This move highlights the ongoing debate within the U.S. over gun control, set against the backdrop of economic and constitutional arguments that support firearm exports. While the hope remains that responsible export controls will prevent firearms from exacerbating global violence, this policy alteration will likely ignite further debate regarding the balance between economic benefits and global security concerns.