On 5/8, China's Ministry of Commerce announced a series of retaliatory measures against the US, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping next month.
The trade measures target the drone industry. According to the announcement, any orders for complete drones, components, or related technology exported to the US will undergo a "strict case-by-case review process".
On the same day, the Ministry added seven US businesses operating in China to its "blacklist". Six of these companies, including Applied DNA Sciences, are prohibited from engaging in trade, accused of facilitating US sanctions related to forced labor in Xinjiang. The seventh business, Compliance Testing LLC, is not permitted to operate in China for supporting US bans related to humanoid robots and quadruped robots.
China's Ministry of Commerce also initiated a national security investigation concerning foreign-produced office software that supports printing and copying. SCMP noted that most of this type of software is linked to US technology companies such as Microsoft. The agency stated that this is the first investigation conducted under the new national security provisions of the amended International Trade Law.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump in Beijing on 14/5. Photo: AP |
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump in Beijing on 14/5. Photo: AP
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that Beijing "had no choice but to implement necessary countermeasures" in response to multiple economic blows from the US.
In May, AP reported that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned the import of humanoid robots and quadruped robots, targeting China. Beijing quickly accused the US of protectionism.
Two weeks prior, the US had added 43 Chinese businesses to its "blacklist", citing accusations related to forced labor, and simultaneously imposed tariffs of 10%-12,5% on goods from China and 59 other countries.
SCMP suggested that Beijing's response marks a "calculated escalation" in the US-China trade and technology dispute. Both sides are attempting to gain strategic advantage by threatening to restrict access to crucial resources and technology.
Beijing's decisions concerning the drone industry are based on a tactic previously used in last year's trade dispute with Washington, when rare earth minerals were the controlled goods.
The Chinese side emphasized that their countermeasures are quite "restrained". A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce stated, "If Washington insists on imposing new sanctions, Beijing will take stronger retaliatory measures."
Bao Bao (according to CNN, AP, SCMP)
