China on July 24 banned the export of products capable of being used for both civilian and military purposes to 14 European Union (EU) companies, citing national security concerns, AFP reported.
This move comes a day after the EU imposed similar export restrictions on 51 new entities, including Chinese and Hong Kong (China) companies, which the bloc accuses of supporting Russia's conflict in Ukraine.
In order to protect national security and national interests, China has decided to put 14 EU entities on its export control list," the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. This ban, effective from July 24, will "ban exporters from exporting dual-use goods to the above entities," the statement added.
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the ban was to "retaliate against the serious actions of the EU" issued a day earlier.
Among the 14 entities are Italian electric motor manufacturer Lafert Group and German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG. Dutch shipbuilding company IHC, specializing in producing offshore heavy equipment, and Czech company Tatra Trucks, specializing in producing military vehicles, are also on this list.
The ban also strictly prohibits foreign organizations and individuals from supplying dual-use goods from China to the 14 European entities mentioned above.
