Wire flash
PoliticsChina places German defence firm Rheinmetall on export control list in retaliation for EU sanctions
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
China placed German defence giant Rheinmetall and 13 other European entities on its export control list on Friday, prohibiting the supply of dual-use items to them. The move by China's Ministry of Commerce came one day after EU ambassadors approved a new sanctions package targeting around 250 individuals and entities, including 14 Chinese and Hong Kong companies accused of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. Beijing cited national security and non-proliferation obligations as reasons for the ban. The list includes Czech military vehicle maker Tatra Trucks and Italian electric motor manufacturer Lafert Group. Rheinmetall, which has operated in China since 1997 as an industrial supplier with multiple sites, is now barred from receiving Chinese dual-use exports. This follows a similar Chinese action in April against seven EU defence firms after a previous EU sanctions package.
Source report
China has placed German defence company Rheinmetall and 13 other European manufacturers of dual-use products on its export control list, effective Friday.
The list was released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce one day after EU ambassadors approved a new sanctions package targeting approximately 250 new individuals and entities, including 14 Chinese and Hong Kong-based companies accused of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Export Restrictions
According to the Ministry, the ban prohibits:
- Exports of dual-use products to the targeted companies
- Overseas organisations and individuals from supplying dual-use items from China to the targeted entities
“In order to safeguard national security and national interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, China has decided to place 14 EU entities including Lafert Group on its export control list,” the ministry said in a statement.
Companies Affected
The list includes:
- Rheinmetall – The German arms manufacturer operates in China as an industrial supplier. It established its first facility in China in 1997 with Chinese automotive systems manufacturer HASCO and now has several sites across the country.
- Tatra Trucks – A Czech firm that manufactures military vehicles
- Lafert Group – An Italian electric motor manufacturer
Previous Actions
China made a similar move in April after the EU Council approved its previous sanctions package. At that time, the Ministry of Commerce placed seven EU defence companies on its export control list, including:
- Herstal (Belgium, firearms manufacturer)
- FN Browning (Belgium, firearms manufacturer)
- Hensoldt AG (Germany)
The ministry cited similar national security concerns and commitments to non-proliferation in both instances.
Source
EuractivWestern
Part of this Story
China Adds German Defence Firm Rheinmetall to Export Control List in Retaliation for EU Sanctions