Japan reveals details of chip, machine-tool ban on Russia

Japan announced details of its export ban on semiconductors, machinery and materials against Russia, as it stays in line with U.S. and EU sanctions intended to deter President Vladimir Putin from continuing his assault on Ukraine. 

The ban, set to take effect on March 18, will apply to about 270 items used in categories such as nuclear power, electronics and communications, the trade ministry said Tuesday. 

Belarus is included in the sanctions Japan has taken against Russia as the international community tries to isolate the Kremlin and its ally. 

The ban won’t likely affect many of Japan’s shipments to Russia because it doesn’t include cars and construction machinery, which make up a majority of the exports. Items on the list include materials used to make chemical and biological weapons, which are already banned under international conventions. 

Overall trade could be further hit as Japan is preparing to remove Russia’s most-favored nation status, stripping the country of its basic WTO trading rights, national broadcaster NHK said Wednesday. 

In 2021, shipments to Russia accounted for about 1% of Japan’s total exports. Autos and auto parts made up more than half of the exports to Russia with construction and mining machinery accounting for 6.7%. 

In the same year, goods from Russia accounted for 1.8% of the total imports. Energy items like crude oil, liquefied natural gas and coal made up more than 60% of the imports from Russia.