In short, UK companies are exempt from the Buy American Act. The UK has supported the US both politically and militarily in the pursuit of our interests on the world stage and is considered a qualifying country under the statute. As such, in terms of procurement, their products can be treated as equivalent to products made here at home. The clause regarding qualifying countries reads as follows:
“Qualifying country” means a country with a reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding or international agreement with the United States in which both countries agree to remove barriers to purchases of supplies produced in the other country or services performed by sources of the other country, and the memorandum or agreement complies, where applicable, with the requirements of section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776) and with 10 U.S.C. 2457. Accordingly, the following are qualifying countries:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Israel
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
[Full text of DFARS 252.225-7000]
Federal contractors and subcontractors who supply products and components to the Department of Defense can use UK products the same as they would US products without being in violation of the Buy American Act.
