Haas F1 hits back at allegations it broke Russian sanctions
16th March 2023Haas released a statement, on Thursday, hitting back at allegations that Haas Automation had broken Russian sanctions, stating it’s ‘simply false’.
On March 14, PBS News Hours reported the American company had provided machines and parts to Russia which would have violated the current US export control and sanction regulations.
The PBS story stated the American manufacturer made ‘at least 18 shipments’ from March 4 to October last year.
Since then, Haas has hit back stating they have been in full compliance with the regulations, they said:
“On March 3, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Haas Automation terminated, in its entirety, its relationship with its sole existing independent distributor for Russia and Belarus, Abamet Management.
“Since that date, Haas has not sold or shipped any machines, parts, or software to Abamet or anyone else in Russia. This crucial fact was made clear to the PBS reporter before the story was aired.
“Haas Automation has been manufacturing machines for more than 30 years, and there are more than 200,000 Haas machines currently in use throughout the world.
“Throughout that period, Haas has been a strict adherent to all U.S. export control and sanctions regulations, and an even stronger supporter of the U.S. policy goals many of those regulations are designed to address.”
The team states that the 18 shipments made to Russia directly from Haas, worth $2.8 million, from March to October 2022 is ‘complete falsehood.’
Haas also acknowledged the equipment it previously sold could have changed ownership, and suggested they were not aware of any sort of instances where this may have happened.
The team continued:
“The PBS report acknowledges that Haas terminated its relationship with Abamet in March of 2022, but claims that customs records “put that account into doubt.” The report claims that “at least 18 shipments were made to Russia directly from Haas worth $2.8 million from March 4 though October of last year.” This is a complete falsehood, as Haas made no direct or indirect sales or shipments to Russia after March 3, 2022.”
“While Haas did not have physical control over such products, all of the products were subject to Abamet’s certification to Haas that it would not export any Haas products in violation of applicable U.S. export control and sanctions laws, and Haas is certainly not aware of any instances where it did so.”
The company also made reference to its F1 team cutting ties with its Russian relations in 2022, when the team were title-sponsored by Uralkali a Russian potash fertilizer, producer and exporter, and had Nikita Mazepin as a driver.
“To be clear, Haas has unequivocally, and in many cases voluntarily, ceased doing business with Russian companies on all fronts.
“In addition to terminating its relationship with Abamet and prohibiting exports or re-exports of Haas products to Russia, Haas terminated, at a cost to itself of millions of dollars, a Russian company’s sponsorship of the Haas Formula 1 racing team.
“It is a bitter irony, therefore, that the PBS report paints Haas as being supportive of the Russian military, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
“At a time when Americans are struggling to develop the most effective course of conduct in support of Ukraine, it is irresponsible in the extreme for PBS to present this poorly-sourced hit piece, which ignores basic facts and asserts other facts that are clearly false.”
That’s all for the article; Haas F1 hits back at allegations it broke Russian sanctions!
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