Multiple Media Outlets Quote Kevin Wolf on White House and Export Controls Against Russia

A variety of media outlets have quoted Akin Gump international trade partner Kevin Wolf on export controls in the run-up to, and wake of, Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

For its article “White House Prepares Curbs on Russia’s Access to U.S. Technology,” The New York Times quoted Wolf on the U.S.’s possible export-control responses to Russia’s aggression.

Wolf—a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security with extensive experience in export control regimes—said that the White House could tailor its use of export controls, focusing on certain strategic sectors such as the aerospace or maritime industry while bypassing products, such as washing machines, used by the Russian people.

He said, “They’re making it clear they’re not trying to take action that harms ordinary Russians.”

On a similar topic, in “U.S. announces sweeping restrictions on technological exports to Russia,” the Times quoted Wolf on the fact that the new Commerce Department rules are designed to exempt consumer electronics, but focus, instead, on the aircraft, avionics, telecom, maritime, computers and microelectronics industries. Wolf said, “This is not just optics. It’s going to have a real, significant impact on these sectors of the Russian economy for many years.”

In POLITICO’S “How Biden plans to squeeze Putin's global access to high tech,” Wolf said that the invocation of the Foreign Direct Product Rule by President Biden extends the reach of U.S. law and magnifies the potential blow to Russia’s economy.

He underlined the impact by stating, “It will subject large portions of the world’s products and equipment and semiconductors to U.S. export controls, so it could be really quite significant and impactful. If you can’t get the semiconductors you need to make things in Russia, or the aircraft parts or the ship parts to make things, then you have a downward spiral economically.”

Reuters, for “Biden hits Russia with tough export curbs, slashing access to global tech” on the topic of the Foreign Direct Product Rule, also quoted Wolf: “This is the most complex export control rule ever written. Many companies may choose to simply avoid dealing with Russia to avoid the potential for a mistake.”

Also, on the Foreign Direct Product Rule, in “U.S. targets major Russian banks and tech sector with sweeping sanctions and export controls following Ukraine invasion,” The Washington Post quoted Wolf on allies such as Canada, Australia, and the EU adapting their extant export controls to be consistent with this new rule. He said, “I have never seen anything like this in any context where the allies have changed their rules to be more like the United States. That shows an extraordinary amount of work and coordination with the allies.”

POLITICO, in “How China Could Help Russia Circumvent New Sanctions,” quoted Wolf on the topic of China seeking to ship chips and other needed tech items to Russia: “If Chinese companies start to just ignore the provisions [and] keep shipping, then they are likely candidates for additional sanctions.”

In “Chip sanctions aim for Russia’s military and its tech industry hopes,” Financial Times quoted Wolf on the U.S.’s tech-related export controls. Wolf characterized these as both novel and complex and aimed at Russian government and industry, rather than consumers, adding, “What the administration has done here is set out a structure to cut Russia off from chips and said that this is a policy and a mission. And this isn’t going to go away. There is massive allied co-operation on this.”

Finally, Bloomberg, in “U.S. Slaps Broad Restrictions on Russia Imports Over Ukraine,” quoted Wolf as saying that the export controls for the Russian military and associated companies are broad, affecting more items than previously and going beyond technology to cover everyday items such as toothbrushes if those are made with U.S. tools or software. Wolf said, “The breadth, the reach and coordination with allies are the points that jump out. [The actions] will have a significant impact on the Russian economy for the long term.”