Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Congress is set to hold a hearing to discuss U.S. arm export policy following years of permissive imports under the then-U.S. president Donald Trump.

The hearing was held amid mounting pressure on President Joe Biden’s administration and its allies, to supply antitank and/or antiaircraft weaponry to Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of the State Department for political-military matters, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. She said that while the Biden administration tries to be diplomatic, they still give “urgently necessary ammunition and antitank missiles” (Ukraine) to the country. They also authorize the transfer of U.S.-origin technology to NATO allies.

Javelin anti-tank rockets are manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE -) and Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE –)

Biden’s Administration approved $350 million in additional weapon transfers from U.S. stock to Ukraine over the weekend. This includes antiaircraft systems and anti-armor munitions. In the last one year, more than $1B in U.S. security assistance has been provided to Ukraine.

Biden’s Administration reworked America’s arms export policy in order to put more importance on human rights during the evaluation of deals. It will be publicized as the conventional arms transfer strategy. This policy will end Trump’s focus on economic gains from arm sales.

State Department data show that foreign government sales of U.S.-made military equipment fell by 21%, to $138 billion during fiscal 2021.