South Korean Officials Commit to Russia Export Controls

South Korean officials said they plan to continue imposing "swift and effective" export controls against Russia following the addition of their country to the U.S.'s list of nations that align closely with the U.S.'s trade restrictions against Russia. South Korea was added to the list March 4, which excludes it from certain license requirements under the U.S.’s two recently issued foreign direct product rules (see 2202240069 and 2203040075). “Korea is closely aligned with the U.S. and the global coalitionto [impose] export control measures and economic sanctions against Russia's military aggression,” Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said in a March 7 news release emailed by the Commerce Department.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the "unprecedented multilateral coordination on export controls is an essential component to ensuring our response to Russia’s invasion is swift, severe and successful." Don Graves, deputy commerce secretary, said the collaboration will help act as a "force multiplier for our export controls."