Trump preparing executive order to ease arms exports

(Patria) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration plans an executive order that would ease the rules governing the export of military equipment, four sources familiar with the discussions said.

The sources, some in government and some in industry, said they expect the order to be similar to legislation proposed last year by Trump's national security adviser Michael Waltz when he was a Republican member of the House of Representatives, Reuters reported.

If it had become law, it would have changed the U.S. Arms Export Control Act to increase the minimum dollar amount that would trigger a congressional review of arms exports to other countries.

It would have increased to $23 million from $14 million for arms transfers, and to $83 million from $50 million for sales of military equipment, upgrades, training and other services. During his first term, Trump often expressed frustration that members of Congress delayed arms sales to other countries over human rights or other concerns.