Chinese authorities announced countermeasures after the United States imposed new customs tariffs on 60 trading partner countries, including China, last week.
On Wednesday, 5 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Chinese authorities announced restrictions on drone exports to the US and blacklisted six companies to counter Washington's trade sanctions, citing concerns over forced labor and national security.
This move came just days after the US established new customs tariffs on China and 59 other countries. A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson stated that US actions "severely violate China's legitimate rights and interests."
"China can only adopt necessary countermeasures, including tightening export controls on drones as well as key drone components and technologies to the US," they said.
The Ministry of Commerce added that Beijing's measures also include suspending follow-up inspections at factories by Chinese certification bodies, blacklisting US standard inspection companies, and launching national security investigations into imports of office printers and copiers.
Additionally, China imposed sanctions on six US business sectors, including biotech firm Applied DNA Sciences and geological research company Stratum Reservoir, prohibiting Chinese organizations and individuals from "cooperating, transacting, or engaging in any other activities related to these companies."
The Ministry said the six companies "have assisted and supported the US's illegal sanctions related to Xinjiang, with such actions considered extremely serious."
The United Nations has previously warned of possible crimes against humanity in Xinjiang targeting the Uyghur minority, allegations China has strongly denied.
China's state news agency Xinhua reported that He Lifeng, a senior Chinese trade official, expressed "deep concern" to US Trade Representative Jamison Greer during a phone discussion about the latest sanctions.
Last week, China accused the US of attempting to "pressure and obstruct" Chinese companies after Washington banned imports of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots, a separate measure from the new customs tariffs.
In recent years, China and the US have been engaged in an escalating trade war, but the two sides reached a temporary truce when US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in October last year.
However, the US's latest customs tariffs on China and its trade allies are undermining that ceasefire. Beijing has warned Washington against reigniting a trade war amid the global economic impact of the Middle East conflict.
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Source:cna