A reporter asked: Recently, the Ministry of Commerce announced countermeasures against five US-related subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. What are the considerations behind this?
Answer: On October 14, US Eastern Time, the United States began implementing final measures for its Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. This action seriously violates international law and the fundamental norms of international relations, and severely harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. The relevant US subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. assisted and supported the US government in conducting the Section 301 investigation and implementing measures against China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this. To safeguard its own sovereignty, security, and development interests, and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations including the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions,” and approved by the national coordination mechanism for countering foreign sanctions, China has decided to include the five US-related subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. in the countermeasures list. Organizations and individuals within China are prohibited from engaging in relevant transactions, cooperation, and other activities with them.
China urges the United States and the relevant companies to respect the facts and multilateral economic and trade rules, adhere to the principles of the market economy and fair competition, correct their wrong practices as soon as possible, and cease harming China’s interests.
