Japan Announces New Russia Sanctions, Export Controls

Japan last week strengthened its sanctions and export controls against Russia to better restrict sensitive technologies and align its controls with “measures taken by other major countries.” The new measures impose asset freezes on a range of people and entities involved in Russia’s war in Ukraine, restrictions on “capital transactions” with certain Russian people and entities and an export prohibition on shipments to 49 entities. Japan also said it will impose export controls on “dual-use items which could contribute to the development of military capacity.”

The EU applauded the move, saying Japan has “further align[ed] its export controls with those taken by the EU, its allies and partners.”