In response to recent U.S. trade restrictions over alleged forced labor and national security concerns, China has announced economic “countermeasures” against the U.S.
According to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Commerce, the “measures seriously violate the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and severely damage China’s legitimate rights and interests.”
“China has no choice but to take necessary countermeasures in response,” the ministry affirmed, emphasizing that it was acting with restraint.
What Are These 'Countermeasures'?
These countermeasures include “strengthening export controls on drones, and their key components and technology to the U.S.”
As part of the “countermeasures,” the PRC also revealed it will bar Chinese organizations and individuals within the country from “engaging in relevant transactions, cooperation, or other activities” with six U.S. entities.
These entities include the biotech company Applied DNA Sciences, the geoscience research firm, and the non-governmental group Human Rights in China.
PRC has also prohibited electronics testing company Compliance Testing LLC from conducting business in China in response to “harming China’s sovereignty and security” in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
According to its website, Compliance Testing LLC helps American and international electronics manufacturers complete compliance testing based upon FCC and the European Union’s "Conformité Européenne" (CE) regulations.
Trump Administration's Trade Restrictions
The Ministry of Commerce’s response comes after the Trump administration imposed several economic restrictions on China, including the FCC’s import ban of Chinese drones and, most recently, humanoid and quadruped robots.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) additionally added 43 Chinese companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list to restrict imports of goods manufactured with forced labor.
In March 2026, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on President Donald Trump’s illegal tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trump administration announced formal investigations to identify illegal trade policies such as imports produced with forced labor.
These investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 serve to allow the U.S. to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling and impose a new set of import duties.
