US Government Blacklists Another Singapore Company

Corad Technology Pte Ltd, the Singapore affiliate of Chinese firm Corad Technology Limited has been added to the Entity List by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) due to national security and foreign policy concerns.

Credit: Unsplash

According to a press release from 24 November 2021, 27 entities have been added to the list, which is composed of entities and individuals located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan, Pakistan and Singapore. Meanwhile, one entity based in Russia was added to the Military End-User (MEU) list.

Corad Technology Limited was added to the Entity List in 2019. Its three affiliates, including Corad Technology Pte Ltd have also been added to the list this year, the reason being that their involvement in sales of technology from the United States and other Western nations to Iran’s military and space programs, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) front companies, PRC government and defence industry subordinate entities.

Credit: Unsplash

“Global trade and commerce should support peace, prosperity, and good-paying jobs, not national security risks. Today’s actions will help prevent the diversion of U.S. technologies to the PRC’s and Russia’s military advancement and activities of non-proliferation concern like Pakistan’s unsafeguarded nuclear activities or ballistic missile program. The Department of Commerce is committed to effectively using export controls to protect our national security,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo in a statement.

This is the second Singapore company to be blacklisted by the U.S. government over such concerns.

Earlier this month, Computer Security Initiative Consultancy Pte Ltd or Coseinc was blacklisted for supposedly selling tools for hacking, which were used against individuals and organizations all over the world, according to reports. A cyber security company, Coseinc was blacklisted along with Russia's Positive Technologies, which reportedly helped in Russian cyberattacks on the US, and Israel’s NSO Group and Candiru, which have been associated with the infamous Pegasus spyware.

The Entity List is a tool used by the BIS to restrict the export, re-export and in-country transfer of items subject to the EAR to persons (individuals, organisations and companies) that are reasonably believed to be involved, have been involved or poses a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.

In Singapore, Corad Technology Pte Ltd is located at Ubi Crescent and provides service to the semiconductor industry. It designs and manufactures circuit boards and probe cards. Other affiliates are located in China, Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S.