EU expands trade restrictions against Belarus

MINSK. Oct 23 (Interfax) - The European Union has introduced new restrictive measures against Belarus, expanding its ban on exports of goods for the defense industry and exports of services related to software, cryptocurrencies, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Council Regulation 2025/2040, published on Thursday, prohibits exports of goods able to facilitate the development or production of Belarusian military systems, including electronic components, distance meters, chemicals used in the production of fuel, as well as metals, oxides, and alloys. Exports of goods for the industrial sector, such as salts and ores, rubber products, inner tubes, tires, grinding stones, and construction materials have been prohibited as well.

The EU also imposed additional restrictions on exports to Belarus of software for the banking and financing sectors and on exports of a number of commercial space services and services related to AI and high-performance and quantum computing.

In particular, the ban applies to exports of services related to geological, geophysical and other scientific exploratory work, as well as mapping services.

The decision also imposes restrictions on exports of services related to crypto assets, payment services, e-money services, and services to develop the financial technology sector and e-commerce.

Furthermore, the measure expands the ban on imports of goods from Belarus, including a ban on purchases of all acyclic hydrocarbons from Belarus.