U.S. Blacklists Russian and Chinese Firms, Alleged ‘Military End-Users’; Antonov Rips ‘Destructive Action’

Dec. 22, 2020 (EIRNS)—The U.S. Department of Commerce published a list of 103 Russian and Chinese companies and enterprises with alleged military ties which it bans from purchasing a number of U.S. goods and technologies on Dec. 21. The list includes 58 Chinese and 45 Russian entities, including the Admiralty Shipyard; the United Aircraft Corporation; the Federal State Budgetary Enterprise Special Flight Unit Rossiya of the Administration of the President of Russia; Irkut Corporation; Oboronprom; Rostec; Russian Helicopters; Sukhoi Civil Aircraft; Tupolev JSC; JSC Rocket and Space Center–Progress; and institutes of the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation. The listed Chinese companies are similar.

“The U.S. Government has determined that these companies are ‘military end users’ for purposes of the ‘military end user’ control in the EAR [Export Administration Regulations] that applies to specified items for exports, reexports, or transfers (in-country) to the China [sic], Russia, and Venezuela when such items are destined for a prohibited ‘military end user,’ ”

the statement said.

Some of the Russian companies and entities on the new blacklist had already been targeted by various U.S. sanctions and restrictions.

In response to media questions yesterday about the U.S. move Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov, declared: “Such actions of the administration are destructive. They not only undermine the continuing economic interaction between our countries, but also diminish any positive prospects. Baseless allegations that our flagship industrial companies, scientific and R&D institutes ‘undermine’ the U.S. national security are absolutely unacceptable.

Antonov continued, answering the question about the action’s consequences: “Such steps drive our relations into an even deeper crisis. It will be possible to get out of this crisis only if the United States is ready to build relations on the principles of equality and mutual respect. So far, we do not see such a desire.”

The Commerce Department list was equally unwelcomed in Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin replied to a question from Bloomberg at today’s news briefing, charging:

“The United States has been abusing state power and national security concept to suppress and contain certain foreign companies by applying measures such as export control. It severely violates the rules of free trade, gravely threatens the security of global industrial and supply chains, and seriously undermines the well-being and interests of people in all countries including the United States. China firmly rejects it and urges the United States to immediately stop its erroneous practice and provide a level playing field for Chinese and other foreign companies....”