China limits drone exports to US, blacklists six firms

China announced restrictions on drone exports to the United States and blacklisted six US businesses on Wednesday in response to trade sanctions imposed by Washington over forced labour and national security concerns.

A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said the US measures “seriously harm China's legitimate rights and interests”. The spokesperson said China would take “necessary countermeasures”, including stronger export controls on drones, key drone components and related technology to the United States.

The ministry said Beijing's measures also include suspending factory follow-up inspections by Chinese certification bodies, blacklisting US compliance testing companies and launching national security investigations into imports of office printers and copiers.

China imposed sanctions on six US businesses, including biotech company Applied DNA Sciences and geoscience research firm Stratum Reservoir. The measures bar organisations and individuals in China from relevant transactions, cooperation or other activities with them.

The Commerce Ministry said the six entities had assisted and supported what it called illegal US sanctions related to Xinjiang. The UN has warned of possible crimes against humanity in Xinjiang targeting the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority, accusations China denies.

State news agency Xinhua reported that China's top trade official He Lifeng expressed serious concern to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a call over recent restrictions.

The measures come days after the United States imposed fresh tariffs on China and 59 other countries, adding to recent trade measures. China and the United States reached a trade truce after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met last October, but the latest tariffs have threatened that arrangement.