China blacklists 14 EU entities under export controls to safeguard national security, fulfill international non-proliferation obligations
Global Times The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG
China announced on Friday that it will place 14 EU entities on its export control list, effective immediately, citing the need to safeguard national security and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations.
Export operators are prohibited from exporting dual-use items – goods that can be used both for consumer and military purposes – to these entities, and overseas organizations and individuals are also barred from transferring or providing China-origin dual-use items to them, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Any ongoing related activities must be halted immediately, said the MOFCOM announcement.
The 14 entities on the export control list are: Lafert S.p.A. and Garnet S.r.l. from Italy; Sindlhauser Materials GmbH, Rheinmetall AG and Antraco Chemie-Handelsgesellschaft mbH from Germany; InPACT S.A., III-V LAB and Cavok UAS from France; Vigo Photonics S.A. and Politechnika Wroclawska from Poland; IHC Merwede Holding B.V. from the Netherlands; TATRA TRUCKS a.s. from the Czech Republic; Opticoelectron Group from Bulgaria; and Ekspla UAB from Lithuania.
The European Union recently announced its 21st round of sanctions against Russia, placing 14 Chinese mainland and Hong Kong enterprises on its sanctions list. In response, and to safeguard national interests, China has decided to place 14 EU entities on its export control list, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, including the Export Control Law of China and the Regulations of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, a spokesperson for MOFCOM said on Friday.
China’s decision to place the 14 EU entities on its export control list is a normal regulatory measure taken in accordance with relevant Chinese export control laws and regulations, reflecting the country’s institutional arrangements to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations, Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Friday. Such measures are in line with common international practices, the expert noted.
China’s export control measures also serve as a countermeasure to the EU’s unilateral move to include Chinese enterprises on its sanctions list related to Russia, demonstrating China’s determination to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, Zhou said.
The measures also reflect China’s efforts to address risks and prevent the further deterioration of the regional situation and escalation of geopolitical tensions, Zhou said. “Europe has been continuously testing China’s bottom line on international issues, but China will not tolerate its normal economic and trade activities being arbitrarily suppressed or restricted,” he said.