Illegal exports

Illicit exports
Lax export controls

Nature

For the purposes of national and international security several treaties limit the export of a number of products. High technology equipment, nuclear technology, and certain fire arms are restricted. A number of companies have violated these restriction, sometimes with the approval of their governments and thus jeopardizing the agreements and many lives.

Background

Illegal exports emerged as a significant global concern in the mid-20th century, as postwar trade liberalization revealed vulnerabilities in customs enforcement and regulatory oversight. High-profile seizures of contraband goods, endangered species, and strategic materials in the 1970s and 1980s heightened international awareness. Subsequent multilateral efforts, such as the establishment of the World Customs Organization and targeted conventions, underscored the persistent and evolving nature of illicit cross-border trade, prompting ongoing monitoring and policy responses.

Incidence

A number of Japanese companies have sold high technology equipment to China and the former Soviet Union. German companies have exported nuclear and chemical warfare technology to the Middle East. A Norwegian company has sold computer equipment to the former Soviet Union. French companies have exported sophisticated machine tools to the former Soviet Union. With help from western European governments, such as Switzerland's, Iran has obtained material to add to its nuclear arsenal. All of these are violations of international treaties.

Claim

Illegal exports are a grave threat to global security, economic stability, and the rule of law. They fuel organized crime, undermine legitimate businesses, and rob nations of vital resources and revenue. Turning a blind eye to this problem enables corruption and exploitation, harming communities and the environment. Immediate, coordinated international action is essential to combat illegal exports and protect the integrity of global trade and the well-being of future generations.

Counter-claim

The concern over illegal exports is grossly exaggerated and hardly deserves the attention it receives. In reality, these so-called "illegal" exports often simply bypass unnecessary bureaucracy, enabling faster trade and economic growth. The resources spent policing minor export violations could be better used elsewhere. Frankly, illegal exports are not a significant problem and do not warrant the level of scrutiny or alarm that some authorities and media outlets insist on generating.