Six Chinese tech firms banned from exporting sensitive US goods, with fears they may have supported Iran’s military
- US Commerce Department says four companies attempted to procure goods that would have supported Iran’s weapons of mass destruction and military programmes
- Two other firms banned for taking part in export of controlled technology later supplied to organisations affiliated with People’s Liberation Army
The US Commerce Department said on Monday it banned six Chinese technology entities, one Pakistani firm and five companies based in the United Arab Emirates from exporting sensitive US technologies and other goods.
In a statement, the Commerce Department said four of the Chinese firms, also with offices in Hong Kong, attempted to procure US-origin commodities that would have supported Iran’s weapons of mass destruction and military programmes in violation of US export controls.
The Commerce Department said two other Chinese firms were added to the banned “Entities List” because they took part in the export of controlled technology, which was then supplied to organisations affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army.
The export bans come as the United States and China have escalated their trade war following difficult negotiations last week. The US has increased tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 per cent from 10 per cent, while China has raised tariffs on a target list of US$60 billion in US imports
We are putting individuals, businesses, and organisations across the world on notice that they will be held accountable for supporting Iran’s WMD activities and other illicit schemes
The banned Chinese entities are Avin Electronics Technology Co Ltd, based in Shenzhen; Longkui Qu of Linhai, Zhejiang province; Multi-Mart Electronics Technology Co of Nanhai, Guangdong province; Taizhou CBM-Future New Material Science and Technology Co Ltd of Linhai, Zhejiang province; Tenco Technology Co Ltd, Shenzhen; and Yutron Technology Co Ltd of Shenzhen.