On April 24, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that seven EU entities have been added to the list of dual-use items export control.

Companies included in the control list:

1. FN Herstal (Fabrique Nationale de Herstal) — Belgium

2. OMNIPOL a.s. — Czech Republic

3. HENSOLDT AG — Germany

4. EXCALIBUR ARMY spol.s.r.o — Czech Republic

5. SPACEKNOW INC., odstepny zavod s.r.o (Czech branch) — Czech Republic

6. VZLU AEROSPACE a.s. — Czech Republic

7. FN Browning Group (FN Browning) — Belgium

The seven entities listed originate from Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republic, all of which have previously participated in arms sales to Taiwan or engaged in so-called military cooperation with Taiwan, falling within sensitive military sectors.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on April 24, 2026, the inclusion of these seven EU entities in the dual-use items export control list. This is not a routine trade regulation but rather a targeted countermeasure against specific actions. This move marks a new point of friction in Sino-European relations due to the Taiwan issue, as China is now actively deploying its legal toolkit to impose tangible penalties on European entities that cross red lines.

After being placed on the list, these entities will primarily face the following restrictions:

Comprehensive Export Ban: All Chinese exporters are prohibited from exporting "dual-use items" (goods, technologies, or services that can be used for both civilian and military purposes) to them.

Prohibition on Transit: No foreign entity may transfer or provide dual-use items originating from China to these companies.

Termination of Cooperation: All ongoing related export activities must be immediately halted.

Exemption Applications: Special exports require prior application to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, and review will be extremely stringent.

This decision is based on the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items, aiming to safeguard national security and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations. In terms of implementation, China has already informed the EU through the bilateral export control dialogue mechanism in advance, fulfilling procedural requirements.

Analysts generally view this move by China as a tit-for-tat retaliation against the EU, signaling that China’s tolerance for arbitrary sanctions against Chinese enterprises is decreasing. Through this approach, China sends a clear message to the EU: any action harming Chinese enterprise interests will inevitably trigger equivalent countermeasures.

The core of this control list action lies in precise countermeasures targeting specific inappropriate conduct by certain entities, rather than broad economic sanctions. China has also clarified that this measure will not affect normal Sino-European economic and trade relations. Overall, it sets a precedent for proactively managing extraterritorial security risks using domestic law, with implications for international supply chain compliance management.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863382568111104/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.