2 Companies Pay Penalties for Improving China Rockets

Two months after the US State Department accused Hughes Electronics Corporation and Boeing Satellite Systems of 123 violations of export laws in connection with the Chinese data transfers in the 1990's, the two firms agreed to pay a record $32 million in penalties to settle the charges. Because the technology used in launching civilian rockets is similar to that used in launching missiles, Washington has put tight curbs on its transfer to countries like China, where increased reliability of rocket technology is seen as an American security threat. Although global trade of technology can prosper, nation states can be quite protective of their technological advancements, especially in a complex foreign policy environment. - YaleGlobal