Her government Japan prohibited from export to Russia steel, aluminum and aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles, under a new package of sanctions due to invasive Russian army in UkraineThis was announced today in Tokyo by the Ministry of Commerce.

The measure, which also bans Japanese companies from exporting a variety of manufactured goods to Russia, from cars to marine engines, technical controls and various optical instruments, will come into effect on April 7, the same source said.

Restrictions on the export of microchip equipment, as well as

The Japanese government also announced its intention to impose restrictions on the export of microchip manufacturing equipment, following a similar announcement by the Netherlands earlier this month, which was heavily criticized by China.

“This measure is intended to complete efforts to avoid the use of technology for military purposes,” a spokesman for the export control department of the economy, trade and industry ministry told AFP.

Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura is expected to begin a public consultation process on the plan, a ministry spokeswoman said.

Export restrictions are expected to affect 23 advanced microchip manufacturing equipment, the ministry said, which was to provide more details to the press later in the day.

According to Japanese media reports, the measures are likely to come into effect in July.

The tension is rising

In recent years, tensions have escalated in the strategically important field of microchips needed to manufacture smartphones, connected cars and even military hardware.

China and the United States are in a bitter fight over chip manufacturing, and in the name of national security, Washington has stepped up sanctions against Chinese chip makers in recent months.

In the face of US restrictions, China announced in late 2022 that it had turned to the World Trade Organization (WTO), accusing Washington of endangering supply chains internationally.

The Netherlands, for its part, announced its intention to impose restrictions on the export of electronics technology for “security” reasons under pressure from the United States.

The Chinese government has sharply criticized the Dutch government’s decision, which it says is the result of an attempt by the West to maintain its “hegemony.”

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}