Date: 13 Mar 2000
Time: 13:37:15
Remote Name: 156.29.145.175
To manage the export of high-performance computers, the U.S. government has divided the world into four "tiers" and set standards for what U.S. manufacturers may legally sell there. They are:
TIER I: Western Europe, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Any computer can be exported to these countries, with no prior review required.
TIER II: Central and South America (except Brazil), South Korea, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Slovenia and most of Africa. Computers capable of up to 20 billion operations per second can be sold with no prior review. For faster computers, the seller must obtain a license.
TIER III: India, Pakistan, the Middle East and Northwest Africa, the former Soviet Union, China, Vietnam and most of Central Europe. Computers capable of up to 6.5 billion operations per second can be sold to any user with no prior review. Between 6.5 billion and 12.3 billion operations per second, military users require licenses. Above 12.3 billion operations per second, all users require licenses.
TIER IV: Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan and Syria. The United States maintains an embargo on computer exports to these countries.
Source: National Security Council "A LOOK AT . . . Exporting Trouble With Looser Computer Controls, We're Selling Our Safety Short" By Gary Milhollin Sunday, March 12, 2000; Page B03 The Washington Post