Obama Plans to Ease Restrictions on Sensitive Exports

President Obama plans Tuesday to announce a series of initiatives to streamline the system by which the federal government restricts the export of products and technologies that can have both military and commercial uses. The announcement is being eagerly awaited by groups such as the Association of American Universities, which said it expects the changes will reduce costs and bureaucratic hassles for universities that conduct research involving sensitive technology. Among other things, the changes are expected to make it easier for foreign graduate students to work on such projects, and for universities to form partnerships with institutions overseas.