Switzerland Planning to Harmonize Emerging Tech Controls With Trading Partners
Switzerland last week announced plans to align certain of its dual-use export restrictions with trading partners as part of the country’s “response to the blockade of multilateral export controls,” a reference to Russia’s vetoing of export control proposals at the multilateral Wassenaar Arrangement (see 2405300063). The changes, effective May 1, will update Swiss controls for emerging technologies related to quantum computing, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing.
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Switzerland said “ongoing geopolitical tensions are making it difficult to adopt new lists with respect to new technologies,” and these latest updates will help the country harmonize its controls with trading partners that have “introduced national controls based on technical negotiations in international export control regimes to take [into] account … technological progress.”
This will “ensure that Swiss export controls continue to be internationally harmonised, and that new technologies and future technological developments continue to be subject to export controls,” it said. “This will also ensure that Swiss industry and research have access to the relevant technologies.”
Switzerland said it plans to publish the new controls on the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs website.