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• Raimondo threatened to shut down Chinese chipmaker SMIC if it's found to be supplying semiconductors to Moscow
Global exports of semiconductors to Russia have declined by almost 90% since the United States and its European allies slapped export controls on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Wednesday.
While speaking at an annual Commerce Department conference, Raimondo said that controls that were put in place left Russian companies without the chips they need for a wide variety of goods, including weapons like precision-guided missiles and tanks.
The sanctions also hit Russia's aerospace sector and its ability to generate revenue and support military aviation.
"Russia may be forced to ground between half and two-thirds of its commercial aircraft in the next four years in order to cannibalize them for spare parts," she added.
The remarks came a day after the Biden administration added five Chinese companies to a trade blacklist for allegedly supporting Russia's military and defense industrial base.
While US officials had previously said China was generally complying with the restrictions, Washington has vowed to closely monitor compliance and rigorously enforce the regulations.
Raimondo also doubled down on threats to "shut down" China's top chipmaker SMIC if it is found to be supplying semiconductors to Moscow.
"What if SMIC or other Chinese-based semiconductor companies are found supplying chips to Russia?" she said.
"We will shut them down, and we can, because almost every chip in the world and in China is made using US equipment and software, and I intend to make good on that commitment if it's necessary."
Picture Credit: Politico
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