China's Ministry of Commerce has confirmed that 10 United States companies have been added to the country's export control list. The immediate ban on the sale of dual-use items to the US firms was, according to the ministry, implemented to safeguard national security and counter Washington's "malicious" expansion of its so-called Chinese military companies list.
In a notice published on its website on Monday, the ministry announced the immediate prohibition on exports of dual-use goods and technologies to the designated entities, and barred organizations and individuals worldwide from transferring or supplying Chinese-origin dual-use items to them.
Any ongoing export activities must cease immediately, the ministry said, while allowing for exceptions subject to ministry approval.
The listed entities span the aerospace, defense, robotics, maritime services and rare earths sectors. The list includes MP Materials Corp and USA Rare Earth, two US companies involved in rare earth mining and processing.
In a separate statement, a ministry spokesperson said the measure was a direct response to Washington's "malicious" practice of expanding the "Chinese military company list".
"To safeguard national security and interests, fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, and respond to the US government's malicious addition to the so-called ‘Chinese military company list', China has decided to add 10 US military-related entities to the export control list," the spokesperson said.
The move comes less than two weeks after the US Defense Department expanded its list of what it describes as Chinese military companies under Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act. Major Chinese technology and manufacturing firms including Alibaba, BYD, Nio, CALB Group and Unitree Robotics have all been added to the list.
Also on Monday, China's Finance Ministry announced a parallel ban on government procurement from 46 US companies.
