China tightens drone-related dual-use export controls to US, counters several US entities - commerce ministry

China will tighten export controls on drone-related dual-use items to the United States, with exports of drones, key components and related technologies on China's dual-use items export control list to be reviewed strictly on a case-by-case basis, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

The move was among four announcements released by the ministry on the same day, which also included countermeasures against multiple U.S. entities and the launch of a foreign trade national security investigation into relevant imported printing, copying and office equipment.

In one order, China added six U.S. entities to its countermeasure list, including Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., Stratum Reservoir, LLC., Altana Technologies, Inc., Responsible Business Alliance, Verite Group, Inc., and Human Rights in China. Organizations and individuals in China are prohibited from conducting relevant transactions, cooperation and other activities with them.

The ministry said the six entities had assisted and supported illegal U.S. sanctions related to Xinjiang after the United States sanctioned Chinese enterprises on the so-called grounds of "forced labor," seriously infringing upon China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

In a separate order, China added Compliance Testing LLC to its countermeasure list, saying the U.S. company had assisted and supported measures taken by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that harmed China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

The ministry also launched a foreign trade national security investigation into relevant imported printing, copying and office equipment, saying preliminary information showed that imported office equipment installed with foreign system software may affect national security interests in foreign trade.