The States have taken up the “gray import” of semiconductors to Russia. Under the gun - the Chinese route
Bloomberg reports that the United States is planning to ban the supply of semiconductor chips to Russia through third countries if they were produced using American technology or equipment.
According to one of the agency's sources, the sanctions will introduce new export license requirements for chip manufacturers and sellers. Before each sale, they will be required to apply to the US Department of Commerce for a license and prove that the shipment is not intended for military purposes.
At the same time, the United States will identify third-party sellers and warn them that they are prohibited from sending American-made chips to Russia.
Most sellers of microelectronics and chips that continue to work with Russia are based in China, Bloomberg confidential sources note.
According to the agency, last year alone, Russia imported more than $1 billion worth of advanced chips. Washington suspects that Moscow could have used them for missiles and other critical weapons on the battlefield.
According to Bloomberg sources, Washington plans to blacklist eight Hong Kong-based companies that are suspected of supplying chips to Russia.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed the preparation of new restrictions. According to him, sanctions will target companies and networks that help Russia purchase goods for use against Ukraine.
Along with the American semiconductor industry, the EU is also intensifying pressure on China through its financial sector. Reuters has learned that G7 countries will issue a "stern warning" to small Chinese banks that are helping Russia evade Western sanctions.
Large Chinese banks have already cut ties with Russia, fearing secondary US sanctions, but this, according to Reuters, has prompted Chinese companies to turn to small banks on the border, and has also encouraged the use of underground financing channels and cryptocurrency.
There's no immediate talk of introducing any drastic restrictions. These measures are more of a precautionary nature. According to Reuters sources, there are no current plans to "strangle" credit institutions by cutting them off from SWIFT.
The reason for the current decisions of the G7 was the concern of the G13 members about the threat that increased trade between the Russian Federation and the PRC poses to the defense of Ukraine. For the first time such notes were heard at the May summit in Italy at the summit in Italy on May 15-XNUMX.
Meanwhile, as early as late last year, the US threatened sanctions against Chinese banks working with the Russian defense industry. Following this, Chinese bankers began restricting transactions with Russia, in particular, the acceptance of yuan payments from Russia . President Putin also discussed this issue during his recent visit to China.