China Announces 'Countermeasures' Against US Trade Sanctions, Restricts Drone Exports

China has retaliated against recent U.S. trade sanctions by implementing its own restrictions, including export controls on drones and their components destined for the United States. Beijing also blacklisted six American companies, citing their alleged support for U.S. measures related to Xinjiang, which China vehemently denies are linked to human rights abuses.

A spokesperson for China's commerce ministry stated that the U.S. actions "seriously harm China's legitimate rights and interests," necessitating "necessary countermeasures." Beyond drone export controls, China's response includes suspending factory inspections by Chinese certification bodies, blacklisting U.S. compliance testing firms, and initiating national security investigations into imports of office printers and copiers.

“

China can only take necessary countermeasures in response, including strengthening export controls on drones, and their key components and technology to the US.

The targeted U.S. companies include biotech firm Applied DNA Sciences and geoscience research firm Stratum Reservoir. China's commerce ministry declared that these entities "have assisted and supported illegal U.S. sanctions related to Xinjiang; the nature of their actions is egregious." This move escalates the ongoing trade tensions between the two global economic powers.

China's top trade official, He Lifeng, reportedly expressed "serious concern" to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer regarding the recent restrictions. This latest development threatens a truce reached between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping last October, with Beijing warning Washington against escalating a trade war. The U.S. had previously banned imports of certain robots, which China characterized as an attempt to "suppress" Chinese companies.

“

The six entities "have assisted and supported illegal US sanctions related to Xinjiang; the nature of their actions is egregious".