China has announced fresh sanctions against the United States and tightened restrictions on drone exports, marking another escalation in the growing trade and technology dispute between the world’s two biggest economies.
The measures come just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States for talks with President Donald Trump.
In a statement on Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it had sanctioned seven American organisations, including a biotechnology company and a resource analytics firm. Beijing also introduced stricter controls on drone exports to the US, opened a national security investigation into imported office equipment using foreign software, and suspended parts of its factory inspection cooperation with Washington.
A ministry spokesperson said China was left with no option but to respond to recent US actions targeting Chinese companies.
Beijing urged Washington to withdraw what it described as unfair restrictions and take steps to improve bilateral relations.
The spokesperson also warned that China would respond with more countermeasures if the US introduced additional restrictions.
The latest move follows a series of actions by the Trump administration over the past two weeks. Washington banned imports of advanced robotics and power converters, imposed sanctions on Chinese shipping firms accused of transporting Iranian oil, blacklisted more than 40 Chinese companies and two leading universities, and warned that more Chinese artificial intelligence firms could face sanctions.
China was also among the countries recently hit with new US tariffs of between 10 and 12.5 per cent over allegations linked to forced labour in supply chains.
The US has also tightened restrictions on Chinese-made drones, with the Federal Communications Commission banning the import and sale of new drone models and key components over national security concerns.
The latest exchange of sanctions highlights the deepening rivalry between Beijing and Washington, even as both governments continue to speak of maintaining stable relations ahead of the expected summit between Xi and Trump next month.
