US adds 6 more Chinese companies to export blacklist for boosting Iran, PLA

Firms acting contrary to American national security in supporting Tehran’s ‘weapons of mass destruction programme’, says Commerce Department

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Once placed on the list, companies cannot receive American goods and technology without a special licence, which is likely to be denied. Photo: AP

Published: 5:20am, 22 Oct 2024Updated: 6:00am, 22 Oct 2024

The US announced on Monday it was adding six Chinese companies to an export blacklist for supporting the development of Iran’s weapons of mass destruction as well as the modernisation of China’s military.

“We will continue to cut off entities that seek to evade our controls and act contrary to US national security,” said Thea D. Rozman Kendler, the US assistant secretary of commerce for export administration.

“Programmes such as Iran’s WMD programme, their unmanned aerial-vehicle programme and Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme pose significant threats to the national security of the United States and will not be aided by US technologies.”

Companies are added to the trade-restriction register known as the Entity List when Washington deems them a threat to US national security or foreign policy.

Once placed on the list, companies cannot receive American goods and technology without a special license, which is likely to be denied.

The Commerce Department added Beijing Moreget Creative Technology for acquiring US-origin items related to aviation-simulation technology in support of China’s military modernisation.

An Iranian domestically built drone is displayed during the annual rally commemorating Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran on February 11, 2023. Iran’s drone-development programme has raised concerns in Washington. Photo: AP