[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[May 24, 1991]
[Pages 558-559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Multilateral Export Controls
May 24, 1991

    Last evening, the United States and sixteen Western allies agreed in 
Paris to implement a new system of export controls for dual-use goods 
and technologies with significant military applications. The agreement 
brings to a close a major review of allied East-West export control 
policy initiated in January 1990, in response to the President's call 
upon the member states of the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral 
Export Controls (COCOM) to adapt their export control regimes to the 
rapidly changing international political and military environment.
    For over 40 years, COCOM, comprised of NATO members (less Iceland) 
plus Japan and Australia, has maintained a system of export controls to 
keep key technologies with both military and civilian uses from being 
used to enhance the military capability of certain countries. 
Historically, these have included the Soviet Union, former members of 
the Warsaw Pact, the People's Republic of China, and several other 
countries. The changes to be implemented by COCOM partners demonstrate 
the continued relevance of COCOM and its ability to adapt quickly to 
changing world circumstances.
    The agreement means a 50% reduction in existing export controls to a 
``Core List'' of militarily strategic technologies and goods. That 
reduction is in addition to a 33% cut in the list agreed to by COCOM in 
June 1990. The United States and its partners concluded that an overhaul 
of the lists was justified, based on a changing strategic situation and 
rapid diffusion of some technologies that were making the existing 
control lists obsolete. The Core List contains only the most critical 
goods and technologies, which are essential in maintaining the existing 
significant gaps between Western and Soviet-based military systems, gaps 
that were demonstrated to be critical to our national security in 
Operation Desert Storm. On the other hand, because of the broad 
diffusion of certain technologies, export controls have been eliminated, 
for example, on most of the computers exported from the United States 
today. COCOM member/states also agreed to significant reductions in 
controls on microprocessors, machine tools, aircraft, avionics, and 
propulsion systems. In addition, the United States will continue a 
presumption of approval for the export of Core List items to bona fide 
civil end-users for civilian purposes.
    The new agreement continues the trend toward reducing controls on 
items destined for Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, reflecting the 
disintegration of the Warsaw Pact and the fact that these three 
countries have entered into strategic trade agreements with Western 
nations to prevent diversion of Western-supplied technology to the 
Soviet Union.
    COCOM partners agreed that individual countries will continue 
controling goods 
and technologies dropped from the

[[Page 559]]

COCOM list that could contribute to the development of nuclear, 
chemical, and biological weapons, and the missiles to deliver them.
    Full implementation of the new lists is planned for September 1, 
1991, and a fact sheet is available that provides additional details on 
the COCOM agreement.