WASHINGTON - The White House told the US chip industry to be prepared for new restrictions on exports to Russiasources said, including potentially blocking the country's access to global electronic supplies.
In a phone call on Friday, White House National Security Council officials Peter Harrell and Tarun Chhabra told executives from the Semiconductor Industry Association, a chip lobbying group, to be ready for unprecedented actions against Russia if it invades Ukraine. One person on the SIA call with its members said getting ready could include checking on employees in Moscow to make sure they have good IT protection and preparations to shut down exports to Russia at a moment's notice.
"We have been very clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States is looking at a range of options - with allies and partners - to deliver severe costs to the Russian economy," a White House spokeswoman said, while declining to confirm the phone call.