U.S. Slaps Sanctions On Overseas Companies

(AP)  The United States is imposing sanctions on several Chinese, Iranian and North Korean companies for violating arms export regulations governing missile technology and other proliferation activities.

The penalties announced by the State Department in Monday's Federal Register are the first of their kind from the new administration and affect four firms in China, three in North Korea and two in Iran.

The sanctions are largely symbolic as they bar the companies from trade with the U.S. that they were not likely involved in. Although they were in the works for some time, the Obama team signed off on the sanctions on Jan. 21, a day after it took office, signaling a continuing tough stance from Washington on weapons technology transfers.

[wmb57]

The following paragraph informs the reader that the Bush Administration also backed these sanctions, in fact they started the ball rolling so to speak. The sanctions are largely symbolic because the companies do not trade in the areas affected.

"The sanctions are largely symbolic as they bar the companies from trade with the U.S. that they were not likely involved in. Although they were in the works for some time, the Obama team signed off on the sanctions on Jan. 21, a day after it took office, signaling a continuing tough stance from Washington on weapons technology transfers."

Our trade agreements affect drastically how and what sanctions we can use against companies, so called Free Trade agreements inhibit our government and they need to be ditched.

[barbaram99]

I have wondered that myself. Why does this nation do that sell arms to other nations. It never made sense to me. it is time ye stand behind our pres. He is doing what other presidents failed to do. He is doing his best to clean up whitey messs. I am white. bush just about ruined America. The Pres is stepping up to the plate and doing what is right. He is cleaning house. Thank ye Mr. Pres.

[catlady1412]

Can somebody explain to me why it is okay for US to sell arms to other countries and then later those countries end up using them on our soldiers? Why do we keep selling our weapons that our people develop to other countries exactly? Other than profit and a little hiney kissing for diplomatic reasons?

[tejasdemo]

Good ! Slap sanctions on every single Chinese company possible. Then sanction the whole country.

[trillion1]

I''d rather see them go after the "American" companies that dump American labor for cheap Chinese labor. When Nike moved over seas the cost of their shoes didn''t go down. They just pocketed bigger profits.

[antoniof123]

That''''s fine. Now what is President Obama going to do about the U.S. Air Force buying vehicles from China?

www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/3
10759.htm

sickening isn''''t it? That''''s just the tip of the iceberg. The Chinese tire fiasco flooding America needs to be stopped as well.

Posted by Beach671 at 12:52 PM : Feb 02, 2009

Obama has only been in office for what less than 3 weeks and he has already done more than the previous administration with a Republican controled congress did in 6 years.

Please Mr. President you need to slow down wing nuts can''t comprehend anything at the speed you are going.

[likeitis5050]

Take that Iran....how''s that ''uncle Tom'' thing workin'' for you now?

[beach671]

That''s fine. Now what is President Obama going to do about the U.S. Air Force buying vehicles from China?

www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/310759.htm

sickening isn''t it? That''s just the tip of the iceberg. The Chinese tire fiasco flooding America needs to be stopped as well.