China’s Commerce Ministry quickly announced new controls on drone exports to the United States (it is America’s largest supplier of drones) and banned six American entities following an FCC move to ban imports of foreign-made robots and power inverters. That move coincided with President Trump’s announcement of his new tariff scheme, by which more than 60 countries were accused of “use of forced labor” or “non-enforcement of forced labor laws” and hit with tariffs of 12%; in China 43 companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act list.
On Aug. 5, Global Times published an editorial which called these measures “a resolute move to safeguard China’s national interests and legitimate rights.” But it added: “In May, the two heads of state (Xi and Trump) reached an important consensus on building a constructive China-U.S. relationship” which the United States FCC, it said, had ignored. “China’s countermeasures this time are generally restrained. If the US insists on introducing new restrictive measures against China, China’s response will be even more resolute. China will not hold back, nor will it hesitate to take further actions.”
