BEIJING: China on Wednesday unveiled a series of retaliatory trade measures against the United States, tightening restrictions on drone exports, blacklisting six American companies and introducing additional regulatory actions in response to recent US sanctions linked to forced labour allegations and national security concerns.
The announcement follows Washington’s decision to impose fresh tariffs on Chinese goods as part of a wider package of trade measures affecting China and dozens of other countries, further straining relations between the world’s two largest economies.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the latest US actions had “seriously harmed” the country’s legitimate rights and interests, prompting Beijing to adopt what it described as necessary countermeasures.
Among the measures, China will strengthen export controls on drones, along with key components and related technologies destined for the United States.
The ministry said the restrictions are intended to safeguard China’s national interests in light of Washington’s latest trade actions.
Beijing also announced the suspension of factory follow-up inspections conducted by Chinese certification bodies for US-linked entities.
In addition, several American compliance testing companies have been placed on a blacklist, while national security investigations have been launched into imports of office printers and photocopiers.
China further imposed sanctions on six US companies, including biotechnology firm Applied DNA Sciences and geoscience research company Stratum Reservoir.
Under the new restrictions, organisations and individuals within China will be prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other business activities with the sanctioned entities.
The commerce ministry accused the six firms of supporting what it described as illegal US sanctions related to China’s Xinjiang region, calling their actions “egregious”.
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China’s Vice Premier and senior trade official He Lifeng also conveyed Beijing’s “serious concern” over the latest US restrictions during a telephone conversation with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.
The latest developments come shortly after China criticised Washington for attempting to suppress Chinese technology firms following a separate US decision to ban imports of foreign-manufactured humanoid and quadruped robots.
Although China and the United States reached a temporary easing of trade tensions after a meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump last October, the newly imposed tariffs and retaliatory measures have renewed concerns that the fragile truce could unravel.
Beijing has repeatedly warned that continued trade pressure from Washington risks triggering another round of economic confrontation between the two countries.
