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I had cause to enquire about some dummy magazines that attach to the stock Ruger 10/22 magazine to compliment an M1 carbine - alike kit. Brownells UK will import them in bulk orders of 12 but it costs stupid money - literally hundreds of pounds for cosmetic trim.
I tried the USA manufacturer but they don't export. However, they did send me a really interesting email that sounds very promising for the near future regarding the sort of stuff we often try to buy and ought to be hassle free but isn't. I reproduce said email below:

Hello.
We do not export at this time.
The US Government has classified the Kits as "Military Equipment".
Military Equipment is not easy to export.
I suspect the large qty Brownell's requires to purchase is due to export costs.
This includes getting permission from US Gov't and the related costs of permits and the approvals.
This is why we do not export.

However, to speak plainly, our new president is pro-business and gun friendly.
The current export situation is due to the Obama administration's policies, which are anti-business and anti-gun.
Many products will be moved from the "Military Equipment" classification to "Sporting Goods"...when this happens, our Government will help us to export instead of block us from it.
Some time in 2017 we expect to be able to easily export at reasonable cost and with little or no government interference.

Fingers crossed

Legs and toes crossed too, there's only so much I can stuff in my suitcases :)

Dark Skies wrote:.... However, to speak plainly, our new president is pro-business and gun friendly.
The current export situation is due to the Obama administration's policies, which are anti-business and anti-gun.
Many products will be moved from the "Military Equipment" classification to "Sporting Goods"...when this happens, our Government will help us to export instead of block us from it.
Some time in 2017 we expect to be able to easily export at reasonable cost and with little or no government interference.

Now that sounds like very good news. Hopefully there will be a lot more items to be had directly from the USA, although import duty etc will still be an added extra in many cases until we extricate ourselves from the EU.

Interesting stuff indeed, thanks for sharing.

Les wrote:

Dark Skies wrote:.... However, to speak plainly, our new president is pro-business and gun friendly.
The current export situation is due to the Obama administration's policies, which are anti-business and anti-gun.
Many products will be moved from the "Military Equipment" classification to "Sporting Goods"...when this happens, our Government will help us to export instead of block us from it.
Some time in 2017 we expect to be able to easily export at reasonable cost and with little or no government interference.

Now that sounds like very good news. Hopefully there will be a lot more items to be had directly from the USA, although import duty etc will still be an added extra in many cases until we extricate ourselves from the EU.

Dont expect miracles , if Trump changes the classification to "Sporting Goods" , he will also have to make alterations to the tax code and State Department regulations that require any person or company who makes ITAR equipment or components to register .

The current cost is $2500.00 for the first year , then its % based plus an annual fee .

And the charges are retrospective , so a company who started making great AR parts in 2004 and did not register , could now face a possisble cost of $25,000+
if they tried to register today .

So do you really see Trump throwing away a few million ?

MistAgain wrote:
So do you really see Trump throwing away a few million ?

If it means bringing in many millions of trade from abroad then yes, I can.
Trump is a businessman and therefore unlike all the rich daddy's boys that have been president up until now.

Anyhow, the chap I was in contact with owns his own manufacturing business, I would assume he's heard something in the pipeline, he seemed pretty confident. Here's hoping anyhow, after the EU debacle we're due some good news.

Although it would make my life much easier, I doubt Trump will fob off ITAR or EAR. It's a great excuse for the yanks to rake in billions of dollars of fines for accidental violations of some of the most ambiguous and hard to understand regulations in existance.

I'm also fairly confident ITAR was around before Obama, I certainly don't think he was president when I had my first ITAR briefs so to blame him is a bit rich.

Dark Skies wrote:
Trump is a businessman and therefore unlike all the rich daddy's boys that have been president up until now

BS - Donald Trump inherited in the region of $300 million from his father....he's the ultimate rich Daddy's boy.

Obama's net worth is estimated at $12 million even after serving two terms as President.

There's a lot of supposition on what The Donald will do once he is in office. Even Reagan, who was reportedly the most pro-gun president, introduced restrictions.