Report: Haas Automation May Still Be Doing Business In Russia

When Russia invaded Ukraine and governments around the world began systematically cutting financial ties with the Putin-led government, companies quickly followed suit. McDonald’s famously moved out, and other international firms did the same, wanting to avoid being seen as doing business with an abusive Russian government. Now, it appears that at least one American company could still be working with Russia, as a report from PBS points to Haas Automation’s ties to the country.

Haas Automation makes industrial tools that can cut and shape metal into almost any shape, the exact sort of thing many of the sanctions and limitations placed on Russia were meant to prevent from entering the country. One of Haas’ distributors, Abamet Management, is believed to have received replacement parts from China, which then ended up in a Russian arms factory.

Ukrainian intelligence told the media that Russia has managed to increase production despite the sanctions and has asked the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to be more aggressive with its interventions against companies still making money in Russia. For its part, Haas told PBS that any sales in Russia are taking place through third-party entities against its policies. 

Company owner Gene Haas has had other difficulties related to Russia’s invasion relating to his Formula 1 team. One-half of the team’s drivers at the time of the attack was the son of a Russian oligarch, Nikita Mazepin. The Russian driver was cut when it became clear the team could no longer associate with him, his father, or the company behind their fortune.

[Image: Digital Photo via Shutterstock]

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