Digital Equipment sees increased sales to East Europe as export curbs ease

The easing of export restrictions on high technology products and computers to Eastern Europe could considerably boost sales of those products for many US manufacturers. Digital Equipment states that the lifting of strict export controls by the Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls, or Cocom, is likely to increase its international exports. Cocom was originally formed to control exports of sensitive technology to Eastern Europe, but recent political changes in the region have led to an about face from the member countries, which include the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Australia, and Japan. IBM and some other companies are not as exuberant as DEC, being unsure the new rules go far enough.