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Bureau of Export Administration
U. S. Department of Commerce

For Immediate Release
July 13, 1999

Revised Microprocessor
Export Rules Announced
by Commerce Department

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WASHINGTON -- The Department of Commerce has published updated rules which implement the President's decision last week to immediately revise export controls on general-purpose microprocessors from the current control level of 1200 MTOPS (million theoretical operations per second) to 1900 MTOPS.

"These changes reflect a reality of the world marketplace -- microprocessors cannot be effectively controlled at lower levels because they are widely distributed, highly portable and are used in almost every personal and business computer," said Commerce Under Secretary for Export Administration William A. Reinsch.

The Department of Commerce will continue to maintain controls on higher performance microprocessors sold in small quantities for high-end computer and other applications. Controls on application-specific microprocessors that have military applications and are sold in relatively small quantities are unchanged.

The regulations were published in the Federal Register July 8, 1999, and take effect immediately. Additional regulatory changes related to high performance computers will be published at a later date.

The Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Export Administration, administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation and short supply.