Recently, the USA decided to support India’s membership in multilateral export control regimes called the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”. What is the difference between them

2011

“International Initiatives(NGO,Export Control Regimes)”, International Relations

Recently, the USA decided to support India’s membership in multilateral export control regimes called the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”. What is the difference between them?
1. The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar- Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.
2. The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African, and North American countries, whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American continents. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 only

(b)

2 only

(c)

Both 1 and 2

(d)

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer:

(d)

Explanation

Statement 1 is not correct: The Australia Group is an informal forum aimed at preventing chemical and biological weapons proliferation. The Wassenaar Arrangement is a voluntary export control regime focusing on conventional weapons and dual-use goods. It is not a formal group under the OECD. Statement 2 is not correct: The Australia Group has few Asian or African members, while the Wassenaar Arrangement includes countries from the EU and Americas.