From list-based control to conditional dual-use: firearms, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the reform of strategic trade control 

We are pleased to present the latest article from JoSTC, now available for your reading.

The article examines the limitations of traditional list-based firearms export controls under frameworks such as the Wassenaar Arrangement. It argues that the distinction between military and civilian firearms is becoming increasingly inadequate due to technological convergence, modular weapon designs, and shared capabilities across markets. To address this challenge, the author proposes a “conditional dual-use” approach, under which firearms would be assessed based on their actual technical characteristics and the risks associated with specific export transactions, rather than solely on predefined categories.