Le COCOM et le Commerce Est-Ouest

Without formal existence, COCOM (Coordinating Committee) is an informal organization in charge of coordinating exports of products to socialist countries. The aim is to identify sensitive products likely to favour the military power of the USSR. The list consists of three parts, firstly, nuclear materials, secondly, war material and thirdly, advanced technologies with military applications. The decision criteria are not always very clear and often depend on the political and economic situation. Starting in 1964, the constraints were loosened, moving from strict control to a restriction of products and services that could undermine the security of NATO members. For Washington, the nuclear field had to be particularly controlled, as well as all electronic and computer technologies. The Allies did not always have the same perception of the dangers of certain types of trade with Eastern countries. In this context, the effectiveness of COCOM is difficult to measure, especially since trade in dual-use goods and services with East countries was not always well controlled. More generally, the economic war is not always controllable by its operators and victims.