WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday announced new restrictions on U.S. firearms exports.

It’s part of an initiative to prevent access to guns by drug traffickers and criminals in other nations.

In October, the Commerce Department in October put a freeze on gun exports. On Friday, the departmentsaid it would lift the hold on exports beginning May 30, but with new rules and more-stringent review standards.

Changes include denying most export licenses to commercial entities in 36 countries that are determined by State Department criteria to be high-risk locations for gun trafficking; or that undermine U.S. national security.

The new regulation also tracks sales more closely and reduces export license validity, from four years to one.

The department expects the change to affect about $40 million of the $600 million in annual international sales by U.S. gun manufacturers.

Follow NEWSnet on Facebook and X platform to get our headlines in your social feeds.

Copyright 2024 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.