The government plans to ease controls on exports of general-purpose high-tech communications equipment, cryptographic products and chemicals in accordance with deregulation undertaken by two multinational watchdogs on arms and chemical transfer worldwide, officials said Monday.
The decision is expected to be approved during today's Cabinet meeting, and a revision of the relevant ordinances should be promulgated Friday, officials of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said.
This will relieve exporters of such products as modems and cable TV and satellite broadcasting decoders of the need to seek export permission from the trade minister.
The government will also simplify application procedures for those exporting other controlled products to the United States and other countries.
In addition, officials are expected to limit a scope of regulations on certain chemical mixtures based on density and apply complementary restrictions on products with low chemical densities deemed useful for armament production.
The move is in accordance with earlier decisions made by Wassenaar Arrangements, which replaced the Coordinating Committee for Export Control in regulating the flow of arms and related general-purpose products toward terrorist-backed nations. It also abides by Australia Group, which controls exports of chemical and biological weapons and relevant materials worldwide.
The two bodies have undertaken deregulation on export controls largely to meet a growing business demand for general-purpose high-tech products and chemicals for worldwide commercial use.
Subject to respective controls under the Wassenaar Arrangements and Australia Group are 21 types of arms and 130 general-purpose electronics and communications products, and 130 chemical precursors and biological bacteria.