    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [February 1, 2000]
    [Page 168]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 168]]

    Statement on Export Controls on High-Performance Computers and
    Semiconductors
    February 1, 2000

        In July 1999, I announced reforms to the administration's export
    controls on high-performance computers (HPC) and semiconductors that
    were intended to strengthen America's high-tech competitiveness and
    maintain controls necessary to protect our national security. At that
    time, I directed my national security and economic advisers to review
    HPC technology advancement every 6 months and to provide me with
    recommendations to adjust our HPC export controls if warranted.
        Today, based on the recommendations I have received from agencies as
    a result of their review, I am announcing additional reforms to U.S.
    export controls on HPC's. This decision reflects my commitment to a
    control system that will enhance U.S. national security by implementing
    controls on computer exports that are effective and enforceable.
        I have decided to raise the licensing threshold for HPC exports to
    Tier 2 countries. I have decided also to raise the licensing threshold
    for Tier 3 countries and the threshold above which proposed exports to
    Tier 3 countries must be notified to U.S. Government export control
    agencies, and to adjust the Tier 3 country grouping. The administration
    will continue its policy of maintaining a lower threshold for military
    end-users than civilian end-users. Export control agencies will examine
    the benefits of maintaining a civil/military differential in the course
    of their next review of HPC levels. Due to the ever-increasing rate of
    technological change, agencies will review control levels by April 2000
    to determine if further changes are warranted.
        The changes to the pre-export notification threshold and the Tier 3
    country group require congressional review period of 6 and 4 months,
    respectively, before they can go into effect. I will continue to work
    with the Congress to pass legislation that would reduce these periods to
    one month, so that we can keep up with the rapid pace of technological
    change. I also will work with Congress to explore longer term solutions
    to how we control exports of items like computers and microprocessors
    when they become widely available commodities.