US slaps sanctions on Chinese, Russian firms

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

International News
US slaps sanctions on Chinese, Russian firms
Published Date: October 25, 2008

WASHIHGTON: The United States has imposed sanctions on firms in China, Russia and Venezuela for alleged sales of weapons or sensitive technology to Iran, North Korean and Syria, according to a State Department document. The sanctions were imposed on organizations that had passed on goods or technology that could help Iran, North Korea or Syria develop weapons of mass destruction or missile systems, the document said.

A determination has been made that thirteen foreign persons have engaged in activities that warrant the imposition of measures pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act," the document said. The document, effective from Oct 23, was published on the US Federal Register http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ (page 63226). Russian news agencies reported on it on Friday after one of the Russian organizations targeted issued a statement on the US decision. Under the sanctions, which u
sually last two years, no US government agency may enter into any agreement with the organizations.

Sanctions were imposed on 13 organizations, including China Xinshidai Company, China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Corporation, Huazhong CNC as well as Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Venezuelan Military Industries Company. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a spokesman for Rosoboronexport as saying the State Department's measures were "a case of unscrupulous competition," by the United States. The United States accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb, a charge denie
d by Tehran which says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. Russia says there is no evidence Iran is seeking nuclear weapons.

Syria, Sudan and Iran are on a US list of countries that the United States deems as official sponsors of terrorism. The United States imposed sanctions in 2006 on Rosoboronexport, now a unit of Russian industrial group Russian Technologies, provoking sharp criticism from Moscow. Russian Technologies is headed by Sergei Chemezov, a close ally of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Russian Technologies also has stakes in AvtoVAZ, Russia's top carmaker, and VSMPO-Avisma, the world's largest titanium producer.

Read more: http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTIwMDI0NzI5

[Nambe]

1. Everybody is looking for an excuse to ignore the US in the economic summit.

Now China and Russia can act really pissed off. Way to get us in the game bush.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Next up will be the EU

for supplying tourists to Cuba. :)

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. "no US government agency may enter into any agreement with the organizations" - big deal!!

.
.
.

The World is not exactly rushing to do business with the US government or it's "agencies" anyway these days.

AND

the World doesn't trust the USA to tell who REALLY are the bad guys - seeing as many of them are the PNAC gang themselves

So blow it out your a$$ Bushco!