US Imposes Export Controls on Chinese Firms for Alleged Russian Support, China Protests Strongly

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has added several Chinese companies to its export control list, accusing them of supporting Russian military activities. This move has elicited a strong protest from the Chinese government, which has labeled the sanctions as unjust and disruptive to international trade norms and global supply chain stability. The expanded measures include the direct export product principle (FDP) and the military end-user list (MEU), aiming to restrict Russian and Belarusian entities from procuring U.S. products. The BIS has added 123 entities to the export control list, comprising companies in Russia, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, Iran, and Cyprus. The U.S. government is also cracking down on illegal transshipment activities through high-risk addresses in Hong Kong and Turkey to prevent circumvention of export controls. China has called these actions unilateral sanctions and vowed to take necessary measures to protect its companies’ legitimate rights. This move reflects the U.S.’s determination to tighten pressure on Russia’s military capabilities, forewarning potential ramifications for U.S.-China trade relations. Additionally, other events like the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov amidst the U.S.-Russia conflict indicate broader geopolitical tensions impacting digital communications and assets.