The Obama administration is blocking certain U.S. exports to Russia , including some used in its oil and gas industry, expanding the response to the annexation of Crimea. The State Department said today it halted licensing for exports of defense items and services on March 24. The Commerce Department posted a notice on its website saying it had also suspending licensing, effective March 1. Goods licensed by Commerce alone represented $1.5 billion, or 14 percent of all U.S. exports to Russia last year. “This is a lot more significant than blocking some oligarchs,” said Michael Burton , a Washington lawyer who works on export controls. “In light of the allegations that have been made, how could we continue to license, say, rifle scopes to Russia?” Full coverage of the : The U.S. has previously issued sanctions to business leaders and government officials with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin […]