TRAFEED

Export Control Fundamentals

From basic export control rules to practical tips. Explained clearly, even for beginners.

Export Control Fundamentals - Why Classification Screening Matters

An introduction to export control fundamentals: the regulatory framework, the necessity of classification screening, the difference between list-based and catch-all controls, and the penalties for violations.

Catch-All Controls Explained in Plain Terms

A clear explanation of catch-all controls: how they work, when they apply, and the practical steps for compliance. Includes a comparison with list-based controls.

Practical Guide to Classification Screening - Procedures and Common Challenges

A hands-on guide to the classification screening process, covering each step in detail along with the most common challenges companies face and how to address them.

What Is FEFTA? A Plain-Language Guide to Its Purpose, Five Regulatory Areas, Penalties, and the 2025 Amendments

A plain-language explanation of Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA): its formal name and purpose (Article 1), the five regulatory areas overseen by the Ministry of Finance and METI, the two pillars of export control (list controls and catch-all controls), deemed exports, the current penalties reflecting the shift to a unified custodial sentence, and the 2025 revision of Japan's supplementary export controls, all cited by article number.

The EAR De Minimis Rule Explained: 25% and 10% Thresholds, Calculation Method, and Worked Examples (2026)

A practical guide to the EAR de minimis rule based on 15 CFR 734.4: the 25% and 10% thresholds, how to calculate the ratio, what to exclude from the numerator, how the rule differs from the FDPR, three decision scenarios for Japanese manufacturers, and the Affiliates Rule set to snap back on November 10, 2026.

Building an Export Control System - Internal Organization and Compliance Regulations

A systematic guide to establishing an Internal Compliance Program (ICP) for export control: organizational structure, regulation development, training, and audit implementation.

Deemed Export Controls: Regulations and Practical Compliance for Technology Transfers

An explanation of deemed export controls and the 2022 clarification measures. Covers the three 'specified categories,' along with practical compliance steps for universities and businesses.

Introduction to Export Control Audits: How to Conduct Self-Assessments and Drive Improvement

A practical guide to conducting export control internal audits. From building a Compliance Program (CP) based on Exporter Compliance Standards to executing self-assessments, this article covers the essential steps.

Export Control Violations: Penalties and Case Studies for Understanding Compliance Risk

An overview of criminal and administrative penalties for export control violations, with real-world case studies. Understand the risks companies face and the measures needed for prevention.

Multilateral Export Control Regimes: From the Wassenaar Arrangement to the MTCR

An overview of the four multilateral export control regimes. Covers the purpose, scope, and membership of the Wassenaar Arrangement, NSG, AG, and MTCR, and how they relate to Japan's domestic export control laws.

Export Controls for Software: Classification Screening, Encryption Rules, and Cloud Delivery (Updated for the February 14, 2026 Amendments)

A statute-based guide to classification screening for software under Japan's FEFTA: the legal definition of a program, where software sits in the ministerial ordinance on goods and technologies, encryption thresholds and exemptions under Item 9(7), cloud and SaaS delivery, deemed exports, a four-step screening workflow, and a request template for vendors. Updated for the amendments that took effect on February 14, 2026.

What Are Strategic Goods? Weapons, Dual-Use Items, and Appended Table 1 of Japan's Export Trade Control Order, Explained by Statute

"Strategic goods" is not a defined term in Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. It is a common label for list-controlled items -- the goods in items 1 through 15 of Appended Table 1 of the Export Trade Control Order. This guide sets out, with article numbers, the difference between weapons and dual-use items, how the 16 categories of Appended Table 1 map to the four international export control regimes, how Appended Table 1 differs from Appended Table 2, and the classification screening process and penalties.

Animal and Plant Quarantine for Imports and Exports: The Plant Protection Act, the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control, and the Rabies Prevention Act Explained

A statute-based guide to animal and plant quarantine for imports and exports, organized around three laws (the Plant Protection Act, the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control, and the Rabies Prevention Act) and two agencies (the Plant Protection Station and the Animal Quarantine Service). It covers import notifications and inspection certificates, phytosanitary certificates for exports, the 40-day advance notification and quarantine period for dogs and cats, and customs confirmation under Article 70 of the Customs Act, all from a practitioner's viewpoint.

GATT and the IMF Agreement: The International Framework for Trade and Currency, and Japan's Export Controls

GATT (now the WTO) and the IMF Agreement are the two pillars of the postwar international economic order. This guide walks through the trade principles of most-favored-nation and national treatment, Japan's move to IMF Article VIII status, and the security exception of GATT Article XXI, showing with article numbers exactly where Japan's export controls under FEFTA sit within the international framework.

What Is a Packing List? How to Write One, Required Fields, and How It Differs from an Invoice

A plain-language guide to what a packing list (Packing List, P/L) is and how to write one. We cover the standard fields (shipping marks, case numbers, Net Weight, Gross Weight, measurement, and more), how it differs from a commercial invoice, its legal basis in Article 68 of the Customs Act and Article 61 of the Order for Enforcement of the Customs Act, when it becomes necessary for customs clearance and letter-of-credit settlement, and the mistakes that trip people up, all grounded in primary sources.

What Are Shipping Instructions (S/I)? The Role, Required Fields, and Recipients of the Shipment Request Form

A practitioner's guide to shipping instructions (S/I): who issues the document to whom, what fields it contains, where and when to submit it, and how it relates to the bill of lading (B/L). Grounded in Articles 758 and 759 of the Commercial Code and Articles 67 and 68 of the Customs Act, it also clarifies how the S/I differs from the invoice and what to watch for from an export-control standpoint.

What Is a Certificate of Origin? The Difference Between Ordinary, Specific (EPA), and Preferential (Form A) Certificates

A clear explanation of what a certificate of origin is, sorted into three types: ordinary (non-preferential), specific (EPA), and preferential (Form A / GSP). Drawing on primary sources, it lays out the differences in issuing bodies, governing law, and tariff effect, the distinction between first-type and second-type certificates, which agreements use self-certification, and the issuance procedure and record-keeping obligations.