Taiwan Sanctions Russia: Bans Exports of Strategic High-Tech Products to Russia

Taiwan earlier this month banned local suppliers from exporting strategic high-tech goods to Russia, the third country to be embargoed after North Korea and Iran.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, the U.S., U.K. and European Union all banned high-tech exports to Russia. While Russia imports only a small fraction of its chips from Taiwan, the lack of critical chips would limit Russia's military capabilities.

Taiwan's April 6 announcement stated that in order to prevent Taiwan's high-tech products from being used by Russia to manufacture weapons, the government prohibited local suppliers from exporting strategic high-tech products to Taiwan, and a new "list of high-tech goods exported to Russia" , effective since then.

It said that if local suppliers have to export controlled goods, they must apply for a license in advance from the Foreign Trade Bureau under the Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Strategic High-Tech Commodities.

If Russia obtains Taiwanese chips through improper channels such as China, the bureau said it will pay close attention to foreign importers who refuse to clarify the purpose or end user of the exported goods.

Taiwan said it will also pay close attention to dealers with no background in commercial transactions, as well as those exporting products that do not match the needs of foreign traders or exporting to countries without the corresponding technical level.

Other suspicious circumstances include unusual transaction prices/conditions/payments that are not acceptable in international trade; foreign dealers who are unfamiliar with the products being traded or refuse to provide routine installation, training and maintenance services; uncertain delivery schedules or changes to destinations or The recipient's foreign distributor.

Taiwan also regulated the export of 12 types of semiconductor equipment to China, including chemical mechanical polishing machines, photoresist coating/stripping machines, electron microscopes, etching machines, and ion implanters.