[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 27, 1992]
[Page 512]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 512]]

Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Trade With the Former Soviet 
Union

March 27, 1992
    The remarkable changes occurring in Russia and the other new States 
of the former Soviet Union offer the United States Government and the 
private sector unique opportunities to expand trade with these 
countries, especially in high-technology areas that have not before been 
readily available to us.
    The administration's policy is to actively seek opportunities to 
acquire goods, services, and technologies from the new republics that 
benefit our economic and other security interests and to encourage 
private business to expand their search for new opportunities. We are 
particularly interested in access to new technologies that can be 
acquired economically. To facilitate this process we are moving to 
eliminate restrictions that prevented normal trade during the cold war. 
We are therefore announcing today several steps to promote greater 
levels of trade with these countries consistent with our firm support 
for democratic and market economic reforms.
    First, the administration will promote a greater exchange of 
technology between our countries in an area once closed by both sides. 
Specifically:
    We will authorize the procurement by the Department of 
            Defense of the Russian Topaz space power unit that will give 
            us access to new technology at a significantly lower cost 
            than if we were to try to develop it ourselves.
    We will also authorize the purchase by the Department of 
            Defense of four Hall thrusters which have possible 
            applications for efficient orbital transfers of satellites, 
            and we have approved a license application for a private 
            U.S. firm to proceed towards the purchase of these devices.
    We will authorize a purchase of plutonium-238 from Russia, 
            an isotope of plutonium not used in nuclear explosives. This 
            purchase will allow us to meet NASA schedules for needed 
            space power supplies economically and without the need to 
            restart a nuclear reactor to do so.
    Second, we are also working to remove remaining barriers to 
commercial imports of nonmilitary items involving the private sector. In 
those few instances where import licenses may be required, we will 
review such licenses expeditiously.
    Third, I would also note that the United States and our allies have 
reduced COCOM controls by over two-thirds and will continue to work to 
ensure that we maintain only those controls on high-technology trade 
that are needed to protect our most vital security interests. In that 
regard, the American business community should be assured that export 
licenses for civilian transactions will be processed expeditiously.
    These transactions clearly signal our desire to normalize trade with 
the new States.
    Additional details are available in a separate fact sheet.