US sanctions Chinese shipping companies over Iran oil trade, genetics firms for alleged human rights breach
- Three Chinese genetics firms are punished for supporting Beijing’s surveillance of ethnic minorities, the US Commerce Department says
- Global Marine Ship Management and Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping are designated as ‘Iran sanction evaders’ and their US-based assets have been frozen
Washington sanctioned dozens of Chinese companies on Thursday, including for supporting Beijing’s surveillance of ethnic minorities and for facilitating Iran’s energy trade in violation of US restrictions.
The US State Department designated two China-based firms – Global Marine Ship Management and Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping – as “Iran sanction evaders” and accused them of “knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the transport of petrochemical products from Iran”.
The companies’ US-based assets are essentially frozen, and Americans are barred from dealing with the sanctioned firms. The US identified six tankers linked to Shanghai Xuanrun as “blocked property”.
Anyone conducting transactions that involve the companies and their identified vessels risks exposure to US sanctions, the State Department said.
The US also sanctioned an Vietnam-based company, a United Arab Emirates-based firm, two Iran-based entities and 14 other linked ships.