EXPORT CONTROLS: National Security Risks and Revisions To Controls On Computer Systems

摘要

U.S. policy with respect to the export of sensitive technology, including computers, is to seek a balance between the U.S. economic interest in promoting exports with its national security interests in both maintaining a military advantage over potential adversaries and denying the spread of technologies used in developing weapons of mass destruction. The United States has long controlled the export of high performance computers to sensitive destinations, such as Russia and China. These computers have both civilian (dual use) and military applications and technological advancements in computing power have been rapid. The Department of Commerce has primary responsibility for managing the licensing of these dual-use items and weighing the promotion of commercial interests in exporting items against the protection of national security interests. For the past several years, there has been continuing congressional concern about and debate over whether our national security is being harmed by relaxing export controls on high performance computers and over the rationale for subsequent revised controls. This report discusses the General Accounting Office's observations about how the executive branch (1) assesses the national security risks associated with the export of high performance computers going to countries of concern and (2) determines when the exports of computers at existing performance levels can no longer be controlled.