[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 5 (Monday, February 7, 2000)]
[Page 206]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 that 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.