China imposes export controls on 14 EU firms

China imposed immediate export controls on 14 European Union companies on Friday, July 24, 2026, in a direct response to the bloc's latest sanctions against Russia. The move prohibits Chinese exporters from shipping dual-use goods to the listed entities and bans any third-party transfers of Chinese-origin dual-use items to them.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the measures, stating they were taken to safeguard national security and interests in response to what it called the EU's "egregious actions." The action came one day after the EU adopted its 21st package of sanctions on July 23, which expanded restrictions on entities, including some based in mainland China and Hong Kong, accused of supporting Russia's military-industrial complex.

The list of affected European entities spans multiple industries and member states. It includes prominent defense contractors such as Germany's Rheinmetall AG, Europe's largest defense company, and Czech vehicle manufacturer TATRA TRUCKS a.s. Other companies range from technology and optics firms to industrial manufacturers. The full list includes Italian motor maker Lafert S.p.A., Polish infrared detector manufacturer Vigo Photonics...