South Korea removes medical sanctions on Russia
Seoul has opted to remove limitations on specific exports deemed to have “humanitarian significance.” Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Diagnostic X-ray machines are now among the items exempt from stringent pre-export licensing, according to a ministry statement.
The South Korean government has made the decision to lift sanctions on the supply of medical equipment to Russia, as announced by the country’s ministry of trade.
In a statement released on its official website on Monday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy indicated that this decision aligns South Korea's export controls with global standards and enhances measures against unauthorized exports.
”An exceptional approval process will be applied to the export of medical equipment to Russia,” the ministry stated, adding that this change will take effect on February 28.
The announcement highlighted that the pre-export licensing requirement for medical equipment has been partially lifted, allowing for a “simplified document submission process.” This is expected to alleviate the administrative burden for companies exporting items such as diagnostic X-ray machines, radiation imaging devices, and others.
According to the ministry, the decision “considers ongoing concerns” raised by the industry regarding the “low military-use potential” of medical devices and their “humanitarian significance.”
Furthermore, it noted that while the newly designated strategic goods will require a standard export license, some exports to Russia and Belarus will still necessitate a “case-by-case review under international trade law.”
In February 2022, Seoul joined its Western allies in imposing financial sanctions and export controls on Russia and Belarus in response to the Ukraine conflict, specifically targeting sectors such as finance and technology. The restrictions were aimed at strategic items including semiconductors, computers, sensors, lasers, and marine and aerospace equipment. However, some industry observers have expressed concerns that certain South Korean goods may have been rerouted to Russia through neighboring countries.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
The South Korean government has made the decision to lift sanctions on the supply of medical equipment to Russia, as announced by the country’s ministry of trade.
In a statement released on its official website on Monday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy indicated that this decision aligns South Korea's export controls with global standards and enhances measures against unauthorized exports.
”An exceptional approval process will be applied to the export of medical equipment to Russia,” the ministry stated, adding that this change will take effect on February 28.
The announcement highlighted that the pre-export licensing requirement for medical equipment has been partially lifted, allowing for a “simplified document submission process.” This is expected to alleviate the administrative burden for companies exporting items such as diagnostic X-ray machines, radiation imaging devices, and others.
According to the ministry, the decision “considers ongoing concerns” raised by the industry regarding the “low military-use potential” of medical devices and their “humanitarian significance.”
Furthermore, it noted that while the newly designated strategic goods will require a standard export license, some exports to Russia and Belarus will still necessitate a “case-by-case review under international trade law.”
In February 2022, Seoul joined its Western allies in imposing financial sanctions and export controls on Russia and Belarus in response to the Ukraine conflict, specifically targeting sectors such as finance and technology. The restrictions were aimed at strategic items including semiconductors, computers, sensors, lasers, and marine and aerospace equipment. However, some industry observers have expressed concerns that certain South Korean goods may have been rerouted to Russia through neighboring countries.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
