Beijing announced a series of countermeasures on Wednesday, including export controls on drones and a ban on business with six American entities, in response to the latest restrictions from Washington.
On August 6, 2026, China unveiled a new package of economic measures targeting the United States, further escalating the trade war between the world's two largest economies. This move, which includes strict export controls on drones and sanctions against American companies, is a direct response to recent decisions by Washington and comes just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping's announced visit to the US.
China's Ministry of Commerce stated that the new measures are a reaction to US actions that "seriously violate the important consensus reached by heads of state and seriously harm China's legitimate rights and interests." Beijing specifically cited the US Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) ban on importing Chinese drones and the US Department of Homeland Security's decision to add 43 Chinese companies to a list linked to forced labor.
In response, Beijing is introducing case-by-case reviews for exports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), their key components, and related technologies. These are dual-use goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes and are now subject to strict export controls.
Simultaneously, China has imposed a ban on trading and business with Chinese entities for six American organizations and companies. Among them are Applied DNA Sciences and the non-governmental organization Human Rights in China. Separately, Compliance Testing LLC has been barred from operating in China, with China's Ministry of Commerce accusing it of acting in collaboration with the FCC to undermine "China's sovereignty and security," as reported by Euronews.
Additional pressure comes through changes in certification. China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced that American companies will no longer be able to issue CCC certificates for electronic products on behalf of Chinese entities. US manufacturers of certified equipment will now have to hire auditors from outside the US.
The trade war between the two powers has been escalating since 2018, when the administration of former President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated with countermeasures, and the conflict has since expanded into technology and national security, including restrictions on Chinese companies like Huawei.
Although the two sides signed a phase-one trade deal in early 2020, most tariffs remained in place. Relations have further deteriorated over disputes regarding Taiwan, human rights, and technological dominance. Following Donald Trump's return to the White House, the US has again tightened measures, to which Beijing is now responding with a new wave of sanctions.
China's Ministry of Commerce stated that it is acting with restraint but called on Washington to abandon its "wrongful practices" and warned of further sanctions if the US imposes new restrictions. Beijing also announced an investigation into the potential impact of imported printing software and office equipment on national security, though it did not specify which companies are affected.
