China announced strict new export restrictions on major American companies in direct response to sanctions imposed by the Trump administration earlier this month. Beijing’s Commerce Ministry said it added 10 U.S. entities to its export control list, in what Chinese officials described as a direct answer to Washington’s moves against Chinese technology firms.
Among the affected companies are MP Materials, which operates the only rare-earth mine in the United States, and USA Rare Earth. Both firms are important links in the U.S. defense supply chain. China’s measures prohibit shipments of dual-use items, goods that can serve both civilian and military purposes, to these companies, and they also bar organizations and individuals worldwide from supplying them with China-made components.
Chinese officials said the step responds to what they called the Trump administration’s “malicious practice” and is intended to protect China’s national security. In parallel, China’s Finance Ministry announced sanctions on 46 more American companies, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, and said Chinese buyers are now forbidden from purchasing products made by those firms.
Analysts said the retaliation is largely symbolic, because most of the listed companies already operate in the U.S. defense sector and have little direct commercial business in China. Still, the moves underscore rising tensions between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump and signal Beijing’s willingness to use export controls as leverage.
