The crisis between Russia and Ukraine is pushing Washington to react. The United States is considering imposing technology sanctions on Putin, as it did on Huawei.
Growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine are worrying many countries, including the United States. While Vladimir Putin has just launched the beginning of military attacks on Ukrainian territory, Joe Biden recently spoke to denounce “the beginning of a Russian invasion”. He took the opportunity to unveil the first sanctions against Moscow; and the American president assures that other measures are ” on the table “, such as technological sanctions. The United States could apply rules to Russia comparable to those imposed on a Chinese telecom giant.
The US government is considering banning the sale of US technology. As reported by AppleInsider, this measure could prevent Russian companies from sourcing or using American technologies. The method aims to disrupt the supply chain and reduce their production capacity. If this process reminds you of anything, it’s because the United States Department of Commerce imposed it on Huawei. The China-based smartphone maker was blacklisted in 2019 by the Trump administration with consequences.
The Chinese giant has lost its luster in the smartphone market. In recent months, it is no longer among the biggest sellers of smartphones. Huawei lost access to certain components using American technologies, as well as the ability to offer Google services. In 2021, the group suffered a 30% drop in revenue because of these sanctions.
US sanctions: what concrete effects on Russia?
For Anders Aslund, economist at the Atlantic Council, this measure taken by the Trump administration “proved to be very effective”. Quoted by L’Express, he adds: “Similar restrictions on semiconductor exports could have a big impact on Russia’s high-tech sector”. The current shortage of components is indeed a reminder of how essential semiconductors are for many electronic equipment.
However, Russia “remains quite dependent on semiconductors and processors of American origin. And there are few alternatives at the global level in the context of the current shortage”, underlines Olivier Dorgans, lawyer specialized in economic sanctions. On the user side, such penalties can quickly make iPhones or Android smartphones less functional. Indeed, they would lead to the cessation of support for the App Store and other services. In addition, Apple and Google would be forced to no longer offer updates on their devices in Russia.
For the Atlantic Council, such a measure would aim to“Hindering Russia’s ability to procure essential chips”. The American think tank – specializing in international relations – also cites integrated circuits, microprocessors or advanced technologies. The largest state on the planet uses these technologies in sectors such as defence, civil aviation or artificial intelligence. As in the trade war against China, the United States risks targeting Russian strategic companies. A method that has proven itself with Huawei and can curb the Kremlin’s ambitions in terms of new technologies.
