FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
COMMERCE IMPLEMENTS SWEEPING RESTRICTIONS ON EXPORTS TO RUSSIA IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER INVASION OF UKRAINE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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.
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. “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.”
“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. “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 Export Administration Thea D. Rozman Kendler. “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.”
BIS’s Russia-specific export control measures impose a policy of denial on sensitive items
Moscow relies on for its defense, aerospace, and maritime industries. These items, many of
which were not previously subject to controls when destined for Russia, include
semiconductors, computers, telecommunications, information security equipment, lasers, and
sensors. Today’s rule also imposes stringent controls on 49 Russian military end users, which
have been added to BIS’s Entity List. The EU, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, and
New Zealand have announced plans to implement substantially similar restrictions and are
exempted from new requirements for items produced in their countries. This powerful
international response will have serious consequences for the Russian military and defense
sector and sends a clear message of our solidarity with the Ukrainian people and additional
countries are expected to join in this effort.
These BIS actions were taken under the authority of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and
its implementing regulations, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
The regulation will take effect when it is publicly released by the Federal Register on Thursday,
February 24, 2022, and is available here. A fact sheet is available here.
Additional information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s response is available here.
For more information, visit www.bis.doc.gov