China has announced new regulations to ban the export of drones to the United States, described as a retaliation against actions taken by Washington. The new export control rules took effect on Wednesday.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry stated that measures taken seriously harm China's legitimate rights and interests. A ministry spokesperson urged Washington to cease its wrongdoings and return to resolving differences through consultation and cooperation.
The restrictions involve tightening export controls on drone-related dual-use items bound for the US, citing national security. According to the state-run Global Times, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said the move aims to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations, including non-proliferation.
Exports to the US of drones, key components, and related technologies included on China's dual-use export control list shall be subject to case-by-case strict review and will not be eligible for licensing facilitation measures. Additionally, the restrictions include suspending post-certification factory follow-up inspections conducted by US certification bodies entrusted by designated institutions.
US restrictions and countermeasures
The move follows recent actions by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which gave tentative approval to a proposal to ban imports of certain foreign-made military-grade drones. The FCC also added advanced robotic devices, including humanoid robots and quadrupeds, and power inverters to its list of equipment deemed too risky for sale in the US.
Washington also added 43 Chinese companies to its import blacklist following allegations of links to forced labor involving Uyghurs and other minority groups.
In response, China included six US entities in its countermeasures for allegedly assisting and supporting Washington's sanctions related to Xinjiang. The listed entities are Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., Stratum Reservoir, LLC, Altana Technologies, Inc., the Responsible Business Alliance, Verite Group, Inc., and Human Rights in China.
The US-based Compliance Testing LLC was also included on China's countermeasure list, prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from conducting transactions, cooperation, or other activities with the company.
Furthermore, China has launched a national security investigation into imported printing and copying office equipment equipped with foreign system software. A Chinese ministry spokesperson stated that if the US continues to introduce new restrictive measures, Beijing will take further countermeasures.
