The United States regulates exports primarily due to which of the following reasons?

The regulation of exports in the United States is primarily focused on national security. This focus is rooted in the need to protect the country from potential threats, ensuring that sensitive technologies and materials do not fall into the hands of adversaries who could use them against U.S. interests. National security regulations impact various sectors, including defense, technology, and dual-use items (goods that can be used for both civilian and military applications). By controlling what can be exported, the government aims to maintain a strategic advantage and support its foreign policy objectives.

Labor standards, environmental protection, and trade agreements are indeed important factors in trade policy; however, they are secondary to the primary concern of safeguarding national security during export controls.