The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved a proposal by the Economy Ministry to ease restrictions, imposed by the former government on its way out, on the export of dual-use goods by air to non-EU countries.
The new rules will still prohibit these exports by land but will allow them to be flown by air in line with European regulations.
“We need to ensure that the goods that cannot leave Lithuania could leave,” Economy Minister Lukas Savickas told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
As suggested by Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, the provision not to apply restrictions on goods that are technically unable to operate on Russian territory has been deleted: “We believe that these provisions can be foreseen in the export licensing procedures in view of the risks involved.”
In addition, exporters will be required to include a prohibition on re-exporting goods to Russia or other non-EU countries in their contracts with buyers. Violations of sanctions would result in a trade ban only for the violator, instead of all the companies.
Savickas said earlier that Lithuania can effectively control the implementation of sanctions against Russia and ensure that dual-use goods do not reach the country. He said that this could be done by using diplomats and customs officials, by obtaining information from strategic partners and Ukraine.
In December, the former government banned the exports of thousands of dual-use goods by air to all but 10 third (non-EU) countries – the United States, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.
The measure has been criticised as unreasonably strict and damaging to local producers.
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