Getting Started With D-Trade

Last Updated: January 8, 2008

The Defense Trade (D-Trade) Electronic Licensing System is a free service provided to U.S. persons who seek to export or temporarily import defense articles or defense services regulated by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Before requesting access to D-Trade you should become familiar with the ITAR. In terms of initiating D-Trade use, we especially wish to call your attention to ITAR §120.25, which addresses the concept of “Empowered Official.”

DDTC will cooperate with any appointed individual from a registered company to establish D-Trade service. Only “Empowered Officials” can designate Super User(s). A Super User is the company official that has the authority to grant and manage roles and privileges for the company's D-Trade System users. Super Users, once designated, will be expected to grant individual users within their organization D-Trade access. Please note that only Empowered Officials, in accordance with the ITAR, may digitally sign license applications.

The following are procedures that must be followed to gain access to D-Trade:

1. Purchase a digital certificate from an authorized ACES (Access Certificates for Electronic Services) contractor and install the certificate on the computer you will use to register with DDTC (provided below is the contact information for one such vendor):
   

   IdenTrust
   Purchase IdenTrust ACES
   

2. Once you have received and installed your digital certificate, log into D-Trade at https://dtrade.pmddtc.state.gov/DTC/CertificateLogin and click the Login link. This step will register companies into D-Trade's automated company access control list. (Note: You will not be able to log into D-Trade without a digital certificate.)
3. After you have logged in to the D-Trade System and registered under your correct company name, fax a letter to DDTC, on company stationary, signed by an empowered official with his/her contact information, listing authorized Super User(s). The fax number is (202) 663-2756.
   
   1. Required information
      
      1. Company Name
      2. PM/DDTC Registration Code
      3. List of Super User(s) (name, telephone number and email address)
      4. Company Telephone Number
      5. Company Fax Number
4. Allow one full business day for DDTC System Administrators to record the submitted data and grant the individual(s) listed with Super User privileges. The Super User(s) will then be contacted by a member of the D-Trade Helpdesk indicating that they now have access to D-Trade.
5. Super users may then login to D-Trade and begin use.

Note: Once you have gained access to D-Trade, there are links to online help manuals that may be viewed or downloaded to your local system.