China Sanctions Dozens of U.S. Companies in Retaliation

China has imposed sanctions on dozens of American companies, targeting sectors such as defense and aerospace, in a move that escalates trade tensions between the two global powers. The announcement came a month after U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, which was intended to foster détente.

Beijing presented the sanctions as a direct response to a U.S. Department of Defense blacklist of Chinese entities. The Pentagon had recently updated its list of companies deemed "Chinese military companies" operating in the United States, adding major Chinese firms like Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD to an existing roster.

In retaliation, China's Ministry of Commerce stated that ten U.S. companies and entities are now prohibited from receiving exports of dual-use items, meaning goods with both civilian and military applications. The ministry explicitly forbade any organization or individual from transferring or supplying these items to the sanctioned entities, demanding an immediate cessation of all ongoing export activities.

Furthermore, China announced it would ban its government administrations and local authorities from purchasing products from 46 U.S. companies during public procurement processes. This measure specifically targets several entities associated with defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as well as Boeing's space, defense, and security division. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce described the U.S. action of adding entities to its "so-called 'Chinese military companies' list" as "inadmissible."