EU Proposal Could Impose Export Controls on Third Countries for Shipping EU Goods to Russia

The EU is proposing a “new tool” to combat sanctions circumvention by penalizing third countries that ship EU goods to Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week. The measure, part of the EU’s most recent proposed sanctions package against Russia, could allow member states to impose export controls on those third countries.

“This tool will be a last resort and it will be used cautiously, following a very diligent risk analysis, and after approval by EU Member States,” von der Leyen said. “But there should be no doubt that we work against sanctions circumvention.” She said the EU should take this “additional action” because it has seen a recent “growth of highly unusual trade flows between the European Union and certain third countries.”

The proposed sanctions package could also impose new restrictions on “shadow” entities in Russia and third countries “who are intentionally circumventing our sanctions,” von der Leyen said. It could also place more export controls on advanced technology products or aircraft parts “that are going to third countries via Russia.”

Von der Leyen’s comments came as the bloc considers new sanctions on Chinese companies for supporting Russia’s military, including Chinese technology companies selling equipment to Moscow that could be used in weapons (see 2305080021).