On December 26, 2023, and in cooperation with like-minded allies and partners, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) amended relevant regulations in order to expand the scope of restrictions on exports to Russia and Belarus, and thus prevent Taiwanese high-tech goods from being used for military purposes. 

Recently, the EU, U.S. and other allies have analyzed the debris of weapons from battlefields and summarized their results in the "List of Common High Priority Items". This list covers 45 Harmonized System Codes (HS codes) for equipment as well as electronic and mechanical components that are widely used in commercial applications, but can also be used to manufacture weapons. Considering that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law and a threat to regional and global peace and stability, the MOEA has extended the scope of controls by adding 45 new HS codes to the export control list. 

The MOEA will continue to hold discussions with associations and enterprises to exchange opinions on best practices of controls measures. In considering the public opinions, a 30-day grace period is added to the announcement. Hence, this new control policy will officially take effect on January 25, 2024. The MOEA also calls on businesses to comply with both domestic and international export control regulations, fulfill their due diligence, and avoid violations so as to protect their business reputations as well as their own rights and interests.

The TITA reiterates that applications for high-tech commodity export licenses to Russia and Belarus will be strictly examined and will not be approved in principle. It should be noted that the control list regarding Russia and Belarus will be implemented in line with the relevant regulations on restricted regions and high-tech commodities.

High-Tech Commodities List for Exportation to Russia and Belarus
https://www.trade.gov.tw/Pages/List.aspx?nodeID=4600