U.S. Imposes Technology Export Ban on Russia That Includes Telecom Tech
This article originally appeared online in Lightwave, which is a sister publication to Healthcare Innovation, under the joint ownership of Endeavor Business Media. Thanks so much to Stephen Hardy, Lightwave’s Editorial Director, and his team, for permission to republish this article.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the White House on Thursday, Feb. 24 instructed the U.S. Commerce Department, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), to impose restrictions on the export of technology, including telecommunications systems and lasers, to Russia. The restrictions are intended to shut off Russia’s defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors from critical technology developed in the U.S. or that use components made in the U.S. The European Union and five other countries are expected to impose similar sanctions.
A press release posted to the Commerce Department’s website began thus: “Today, the U.S. Commerce Department, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), responded to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine by implementing a sweeping series of stringent export controls that will severely restrict Russia’s access to technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its aggressive military capabilities. These controls primarily target Russia’s defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors and will cut off Russia’s access to vital technological inputs, atrophy key sectors of its industrial base, and undercut its strategic ambitions to exert influence on the world stage. BIS’s actions, along with those of the Department of the Treasury, are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s swift and severe response to Russian aggression. These measures also reflect momentous cooperation among the United States, the European Union (EU), Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, with more expected to join, in aligning on export control policies and requirements. If necessary, based upon any subsequent destabilizing actions by Russia, the U.S. government will follow up in the days to come with additional stringent economic measures.”
Further, the press release noted, “The export control measures announced today are the most comprehensive application of Commerce’s export authorities on U.S. items, including technology, as well as on foreign items produced using U.S. equipment, software, and blueprints, targeting a single nation. These actions, in concert with those that our partners are taking, restrict Russia’s access to items that can support the country’s defense industrial base and military and intelligence services.”
“Russia’s actions are an immediate danger to those living in Ukraine, but also pose a real threat to democracy throughout the world,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, in a statement contained in the press release. “By acting decisively and in close coordination with our allies and partners, we are sending a clear message today that the United States of America will not tolerate Russia's aggression against a democratically-elected government. The Commerce Department, along with our partners internationally and across the Biden-Harris Administration, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to restrict products, software, and technology that support Russia’s military capabilities.”
As was the case with ZTE and Huawei previously, certain organizations within the Russian defense ecosystem have been placed on the Entity List (see “U.S. Commerce Dept. finds ZTE violated export disciplinary agreement, bans U.S. component supply” and “Huawei faces U.S. technology access ban”). Placement on the list requires that special licenses be obtained for items developed in the U.S. as well as foreign items produced using U.S. equipment, software, and blueprints before they can be sent to these Russian entities. Instructions for filing for such licenses state that the parties involved should assume such license requests will be denied.
The Commerce Department has imposed restrictions on Russian access to semiconductors, computers, telecommunications technology, information security equipment, lasers, and sensors. (For a definition of what constitutes “telecommunications,” visit the website of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Commerce Department.) Concurrently, BIS added 49 Russian military end-user organizations to its Entity List.
In addition to the EU, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand have agreed to adopt similar sanctions. The Commerce Department said via a release that it expects other countries to follow suit.
“Russia’s attack on Ukraine is an attack on the democratic, rules-based order and the United States must meet this aggression with real consequences,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, in a statement contained in the press release. “This coordinated policy is a strong statement of solidarity from the United States and the international community with the people of Ukraine. This powerful response was developed in close consultation with our global allies and partners to cut the Russian military off from the technologies and products it needs to sustain its unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.”
“With these export controls, we, together with our allies and partners, are technologically isolating Russia and degrading its military capabilities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Thea D. Rozman Kendler, in a statement contained in the press release. “Russia’s access to cutting-edge U.S. and partner country technology will halt. Its defense industrial base and military and intelligence services will not be able to acquire most Western-made products. Even most products made overseas using sensitive U.S. technology will be restricted for export to Russia. Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty warrants this swift and expansive export controls response.”
The export restrictions complement financial restrictions the White House imposed as well. The Biden Administration indicates that further economic sanctions could follow if warranted.
