Sanctioned Indian companies procured items made in West, open markets

New Delhi: The over a dozen Indian firms sanctioned by the US for allegedly aiding Russian war efforts have largely procured items manufactured in the West and from the open markets.

India does not produce several items that the US Treasury Department mentioned while sanctioning the firms. None of the sanctioned firms either have US business accounts or violated any international export control treaty to which India is signatory, ET has learnt.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade has strict rules in place and those rules were not violated, sources said.


These sanctioned firms may be operating via third countries through non-dollar and non-Euro payment mechanisms, ET has learnt. A source, who did not wish to be quoted, said the US is "acting in an extra-territorial fashion" in this case.

On Saturday, the MEA stated that the Indian companies sanctioned by the US for allegedly aiding Russian military efforts are not in violation of Indian laws.

"We have seen reports on US sanctions. India has a robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and non-proliferation controls. We are also a member of three key multilateral non-proliferation export control regimes - the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime - and have been effectively implementing relevant UNSC sanctions and UNSC resolution 1540 on non-proliferation," the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "Our understanding is that the sanctioned transactions and companies are not in violation of Indian laws."

Nevertheless, the MEA cautioned that in keeping with India's established non-proliferation credentials, it is working with all the relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitise Indian companies on applicable export control provisions.

Regular strategic trade/export control outreach events for Indian industries and stakeholders are being carried out by agencies of the Government of India.