The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is a set of U.S. government rules that control the export, import, and transfer of defense-related articles, services, and technical data listed on the United States Munitions List (USML). ITAR is administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and is designed to safeguard U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

Organizations subject to ITAR must ensure that defense-related information, including technical drawings, blueprints, software, or even discussions about controlled technologies, is not shared with unauthorized foreign entities or individuals. This applies not only to physical shipments but also to electronic transfers and access to controlled data.