4A003 Category 4A
“Digital computers”, “electronic assemblies”, and related equipment therefor, as follows (see List of Items Controlled) and “specially designed” “components” therefor.
Category 4: Computers
Reasons for control
- NS: National security
- RS: Regional stability
- CC: Crime control
- AT: Anti-terrorism
Country chart
| Control | Column |
|---|---|
| AT applies to entire entry (refer to 4A994 for controls on “digital computers” with an APP >0.0128 but ≤70 WT) | AT 1 |
| CC applies to “digital computers” for computerized finger-print equipment | CC 1 |
| NS applies to 4A003.b, .c, and .z.1 | NS 1 |
| NS applies to 4A003.g and z.2 | NS 2 |
| RS applies to 4A003.z.1.a, z.2.a | None |
| RS applies to 4A003.z.1.b, z.2.b | None |
List-based license exceptions
| Exception | As stated in the entry |
|---|---|
| APP | Yes, for computers controlled by 4A003.b, and “electronic assemblies” controlled by 4A003.c, to the exclusion of other technical parameters. See § 740.7 of the EAR. NAC/ACA: Yes, for 4A003.z. AIA: Yes for 4A003.z.1.a, z.2.a ACM: Yes for 4A003.z LPP: Yes for 4A003.z.1.a, z.2.a |
| GBS | Yes, for 4A003.g and “specially designed” “parts” and “components” therefor, exported separately or as part of a system. |
| LVS | $5000; N/A for 4A003.b, c, and z. |
Items
- a. [Reserved]
- b. “Digital computers” having an “Adjusted Peak Performance” (“APP”) exceeding 70 Weighted TeraFLOPS (WT);
- c. “Electronic assemblies” “specially designed” or modified to be capable of enhancing performance by aggregation of processors so that the “APP” of the aggregation exceeds the limit in 4A003.b.;
- d. to f. [Reserved]
- g. Equipment “specially designed” for aggregating the performance of “digital computers” by providing external interconnections which allow communications at unidirectional data rates exceeding 2.0 Gbyte/s per link.
- h. through y. [Reserved]
- z. Commodities specified in this ECCN 4A003 that also meet or exceed the performance parameters in 4A090.
- z.1.a. Commodities specified in 4A003.b or .c that also meet or exceed the performance parameters in ECCN 4A090.a;
- z.1.b Commodities specified in 4A003.b or .c that also meet or exceed the performance parameters in ECCN 4A090.b;
- z.2.a. Commodities specified in 4A003.g that also meet or exceed the performance parameters in ECCN 4A090a; or
- z.2.b Commodities specified in 4A003.g that also meet or exceed the performance parameters in ECCN 4A090.b.
Related controls
See also ECCNs 4A090, 4A994 and 4A980.
Notes
Note: For all destinations, except those countries in Country Group E:1 or E:2 of Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR, no license is required (NLR) for computers with an “Adjusted Peak Performance” (“APP”) not exceeding 70 Weighted TeraFLOPS (WT) and for “electronic assemblies” described in 4A003.c that are not capable of exceeding an “Adjusted Peak Performance” (“APP”) exceeding 70 Weighted TeraFLOPS (WT) in aggregation, except certain transfers as set forth in § 746.3 (Iraq).
Note to List Based License Exceptions: See § 740.2(a)(9)(ii) of the EAR for license exception restrictions for ECCN 4A003.z.
Note 1: 4A003 includes the following:: 'Vector processors' (as defined in Note 7 of the “Technical Note on “Adjusted Peak Performance” (“APP”)”);: Array processors;: Digital signal processors;: Logic processors;: Equipment designed for “image enhancement.”
Note 2: The control status of the “digital computers” and related equipment described in 4A003 is determined by the control status of other equipment or systems provided: a. The “digital computers” or related equipment are essential for the operation of the other equipment or systems; b. The “digital computers” or related equipment are not a “principal element” of the other equipment or systems; and
N.B. 1: The control status of “signal processing” or “image enhancement” equipment “specially designed” for other equipment with functions limited to those required for the other equipment is determined by the control status of the other equipment even if it exceeds the “principal element” criterion.
N.B. 2: For the control status of “digital computers” or related equipment for telecommunications equipment, see Category 5, Part 1 (Telecommunications). c. The “technology” for the “digital computers” and related equipment is determined by 4E.
Note 1: 4A003.c applies only to “electronic assemblies” and programmable interconnections not exceeding the limit in 4A003.b when shipped as unintegrated “electronic assemblies.”
Note 2: 4A003.c does not control “electronic assemblies” “specially designed” for a product or family of products whose maximum configuration does not exceed the limit of 4A003.b.
N.B.: For “electronic assemblies,” modules or equipment, performing analog-to-digital conversions, see 3A002.h.
Note: 4A003.g does not control internal interconnection equipment (e.g., backplanes, buses) passive interconnection equipment, “network access controllers” or “communication channel controllers”.
Source: eCFR, version
2026-08-01, retrieved
2026-08-20T04:04:59+00:00.