- The Entity List is a tool Washington uses to impose trade restrictions on companies it deems to threaten U.S. national security.
- It has recently been used to curb Chinese technology and punish participation in the Russian war machine.
- China’s Ministry of Commerce said it strongly opposes the blacklisting of Chinese companies in the United States.
A broken window is seen after Russia fired 33 drones towards the Kiev region of Ukraine on September 10, 2023. In a separate statement, the Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia sent 33 Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) towards Kiev and that Ukrainian forces shot down 26 of them.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The Biden administration on Monday imposed new trade restrictions on 11 Chinese and five Russian companies, targeting foreign actors seen as threats to national security and drawing the ire of Beijing.
The US accused Hong Kong-based exporter Asia Pacific Links, three Finnish freight, warehousing and logistics companies, three Russian companies and a German industrial equipment manufacturer of being involved in a scheme aimed at overcoming US export restrictions through the supply of To bypass drone components to previously blacklisted companies Special Technology Center in St. Petersburg, Russia.
These companies were among 28 new additions to the U.S. corporate list on Monday. The US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security accused eight Chinese recruits of procuring or attempting to procure US drone equipment for Iran, while two Omani companies were cited for supporting Houthi fighters in Yemen.
The list is a tool Washington uses to impose trade restrictions on companies it believes threaten U.S. national security. It has also recently been used to curb Chinese technology and punish participation in Russia’s war machine.
“Our actions send a clear signal to those who seek to circumvent our export controls that behavior intended to undermine U.S. national security interests will have consequences,” said Alan Estevez, assistant secretary of commerce for industry and security, in a statement.
“We will not hesitate to take swift and meaningful action against those who continue to seek to aid and abet Putin’s illegal and immoral war in Ukraine,” he added.
None of the Chinese companies mentioned were able to immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. CNBC was unable to reach a company spokesperson for comment, while some of the companies did not have public contact information.
“The United States abuses unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ to undermine the international trade order and rules, hinder normal international economic and commercial exchanges, and harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals,” the Chinese said Commerce Department issued a statement on Tuesday.
“The United States should immediately end its undue repression of Chinese companies and individuals. China will take necessary measures to resolutely protect its legitimate rights and interests,” the Chinese Ministry of Commerce added.
—CNBC’s Quek Jie Ann contributed to this story.