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The Singapore Export Control Summit

There were over 500 delegates participating in this seminar from governmental agencies including 10 ASEAN countries, Australia, Japan, the United States, China, Germany; international organizations, academics as well as the business community. The Vietnamese representatives invited to the conference included the General Department of Customs and the Ministry of National Defense (Vietnam's national focal point for the prevention and control of weapons of mass destruction - Standing Agency 81).

Opening speeches of the workshop were (i) Mr. Casey Mace, Deputy Chief of Mission, the US Embassy in Singapore, (ii) Mr. Katsuro Igari, Director-General of Trade Control Department, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bereau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan and (iii) Mr. Lim Teck Leong, Deputy Director General of Policy and Facilitation, Singapore Customs. They all emphasized the importance of strategic trade controls, especially complex strategic, dual-use goods. This control is a major challenge for international trade to ensure the stability of the global trade supply chain security. The seminar is also an opportunity for speakers from the governmental agencies and the private sectors to share best practices related to strategic trade management and control of dual-use goods.

On the first day, speakers from Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand shared about updating regulations of Southeast Asian countries in strategic trade management, dual-use goods related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In addition, speakers from the US, programs, projects and the private sector outlined best practices related to the protection of critical technology industries; shared trends and challenges in controlling emerging technologies as well as transferring new and invisible technologies with dual-use; some lessons learned in strategic trade management, dual-use goods.

Continuing the content of the first day, on the second day of JIO seminar, speakers from Australia, EU P2P program (European Union), BAFA (Germany) and Japan continued to share updates on international regulations on strategic trade control, dual-use categories; compliance challenges in a complex regulatory landscape. Especially, in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, speakers from the EU and the US mentioned the sanctions against Russia, paying attention to dual-use goods and advanced technologies. Besides, the updating of US regulations was also presented at the seminar. Ms. Aiysha Hussain, legal advisor, the US Department of Commerce presented on the duties, importance and responsibilities of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the US Department of Commerce for export control. The control of foreign assets was also presented in detail by a representative from the US Department of the Treasury regarding strategic goods.

There were more than 200 delegates participating in this year's forum from 10 ASEAN countries, the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, the European Union, and the United Nations Office of Disarmament. On this forum, female delegates from different countries discussed and advocated for gender equality, supported and increased the presence of women in the field of strategic trade management and control of dual-use goods. This event is a form of promoting the meaningful participation of women in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in line with the slogans of Women, Peace and Strategic Goals of Security.

The final session of the Summit was the Export Control Forum for Southeast Asian Countries (SEAFEC). During the forum, the delegates shared about controlling emerging technology, implementing strategic trade controls, trends and challenges for goods in transit and transshipment in the context of the world evolving rapidly, complexly and non-traditional security challenges emerged. During the forum, the Vietnamese representative informed about Vietnam's efforts in implementing international commitments on disarmament and combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction under the United Nations Security Council resolutions, international treaties to which Viet Nam is a signatory; and introduced, emphasized that the Government of Viet Nam has issued Decree No. 81/2019/ND-CP dated 11 November 2019 on the prevention and control of weapons of mass destruction which has created a legal corridor aiming at preventing the proliferation, financing the proliferation of these weapons.

Participating in the Summit on Strategic Trade Control with specialized seminars was an opportunity for the Vietnamese delegation to approach and learn the practices of countries in the region and the world on strategic trade control, dual-use goods; and it also showed Viet Nam's responsibility and determination in preventing and combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Thiện Nguyễn