Export control - the permissive and prohibitive (licensing) procedure for carrying out foreign economic operations in relation to certain goods and technologies - occupies an important place in both the foreign economic and foreign policy of the United States. The analysis of the export control regime over dual-use products deserves special attention. The United States considers technological leadership as the basis of national security and an essential component of maintaining national competitiveness. It was in this area that the main changes took place throughout the post-war period. Currently, the development of this regime is undergoing another tightening cycle. The article analyzes the evolution of priorities and legislation of the American policy of control over the export of dual-use items, examines the transformation of the system of rules in this area in the light of new US approaches to national and international security issues, the actualization of foreign policy objectives. It is considered how the specifics of the regime allows the United States to widely use it as sanctions.