Taiwan will introduce additional restrictions on exports to Russia and Belarus
On January 4, 2023, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) amended the ‘List of high-tech goods exported to Russia and Belarus’, expanding the number of goods subject to export control. It is also in line with the implementation of international cooperation and preventing the export of high-tech goods for military use. The amendment entered into force after the announcement today, according to the Ministry’s website – www.moea.gov.tw.
The MOEA amended relevant regulations and expanded the scope of export controls against Russia and Belarus to meet the requirements of international cooperation and prevent the use of Taiwanese high-tech goods for military purposes. The Ministry of Economy added 52 items to the new export control list, which mainly concern nuclear energy substances, various goods and materials, chemicals and machines.
The US, EU, Japan, Great Britain and other like-minded allies have consistently announced export control measures against Russia and Belarus since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war. MOEA previously extended export controls against Russia and Belarus on 57 goods in Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) categories 3-9, including computer information, sensors, lasers and aerospace products, in April and May 2021, respectively. Taiwan has added Categories 0, 1 and 2 to the ECCN, making controls subject to the same restrictions as the EU and the US, as well as the rules of other democratic allies.
MOEA held a discussion with industry associations and manufacturers to exchange views on extending export controls at the end of 2022, before the amendment. As for Taiwanese enterprises focusing on the Russian and Belarusian markets, the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and the Taiwan Foreign Trade Development Council (TAITRA) contacted them and supported them in diversifying their sales to other markets. In light of this latest amendment, the Ministry of Economy urges exporters to comply with export control regulations and conduct due diligence before making deliveries to Russia and Belarus.
BOFT reiterates that applications for licenses to export high-tech goods to Russia and Belarus will be strictly licensed. The ‘List of high-tech goods exported to Russia and Belarus’ by ‘Strategic high-tech product categories, separate strategic high-tech product categories and export control zones’ was announced and implemented in accordance with the relevant regulations. In export control license applications, the BOFT will take into account whether exporters have received payments prior to the aforementioned announcement, and whether end-users are involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Announcements and details on export control points can be found on the BOFT website – www.trade.gov.tw.
Accordingly, Russia has already started to catch fire in the local media, due to the fact that the previous deliveries are also already delayed and the Russians are very nervous about this…
