US Commerce Department suspended export privileges of Belgian firm for attempting to send sensitive technology to China

 

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The US Commerce Department said on Wednesday it had suspended the export privileges of a Belgian company and its owner for 180 days for attempting to send sensitive technology to China in violation of US regulations.

Hans De Geetere and Belgium-based Hasa-Invest bought or attempted to purchase accelerometers, which measures things like machine vibration and seismic activity, from a US firm on behalf of clients in China, including an aerospace contractor, the department said.

De Geetere and Hasa-Invest falsely told the US firm that the accelerometers were bound for clients in Europe, it said.

At least some of the accelerometer orders were placed on behalf of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, a contractor for Beijing’s space program that is on Washington’s export control list, the order said. “The use of accelerometers by the aerospace and defense industries, and Respondents’ false statements made to U.S. companies to obtain the items, raises significant concerns of future violations,” the order said.