The cocom agreement, also known as the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls, was a treaty signed in Paris in 1949 aimed at controlling and monitoring the export of sensitive technologies to communist countries during the Cold War.
Under the cocom agreement, member countries agreed to establish a system of export controls on goods and technologies that could have military applications, such as weapons, communication equipment, and nuclear materials. The agreement also aimed to prevent the spread of dual-use technologies that could be used for both civilian and military purposes.
The cocom agreement was originally signed by 17 countries, including the United States, Canada, and most of Western Europe. Over time, the agreement expanded to include other countries, such as Japan and Australia.
Under the cocom agreement, member countries were required to share information and intelligence on potential exports that could pose a threat to national security. The agreement also established a system of licensing exports, in which member countries had to obtain permission from other member countries before exporting sensitive technologies.
The cocom agreement was dissolved in 1994, following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, many of the export controls and licensing requirements established under the treaty are still in place today, particularly in the United States.
Overall, the cocom agreement was an important tool for controlling the spread of sensitive technologies during a tense period in world history. While the agreement is no longer in effect, the legacy of its export controls and licensing requirements lives on in many countries around the world.