The Government of the United States (U.S.) has applied economic sanctions against certain institutions and key members of the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Chinese Communist Party (CCP), certain companies linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and other affiliates that the U.S. government has accused of aiding in human rights abuses. The U.S. maintained embargoes against China from the inception of the People's Republic of China in 1949 until 1972. It reimposed an embargo following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. From 2020 onward, the U.S. imposed sanctions and visa restrictions against several Chinese government officials and companies, citing persecution of Uyghurs in China, human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Tibet, military–civil fusion, support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, support for Iran, transnational repression, and fentanyl production.
Economic sanctions and export controls against China by the U.S. are administered by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and enforced by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
One of the primary objectives of US sanctions against Chinese enterprises is to restrict the development of China's high-tech companies. However, research indicates that while such policies may disrupt normal business operations in the short term, they can also strengthen the sanctioned enterprises' commitment to independent research and development to some extent. In particular, companies placed on the "Entity List" may become more determined to invest in scientific research and actively explore how to drive their own innovation through scientific study.
Early history The Chinese Civil War devastated the country's economy. After the establishment of the PRC in 1949, the U.S. embargo against the sale of military technology or infrastructure, previously levied against the Soviet Union, was expanded to include the newly established PRC. During the Korean War, further trade restrictions were imposed. The embargo compounded the economic damage in China from its Civil War and limited China's access to credit, technology, and materials from the Western Bloc. As a result, in the 1950s the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries were China's only source of foreign economic, material, and technical support. The PRC pursued a policy of rapid industrialization relying primarily on domestic resources. The embargo resulted in increased Chinese nationalism.
The United States embargo against the PRC, including its prohibition on exporting penicillin to China, was one of the factors which shaped the pharmaceutical industry in the early PRC.
The trade embargo was lifted under President Richard Nixon in 1972 right before the reform and opening up period and establishment of official relations. But after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, the Bush Sr. administration re-imposed an arms embargo against the PRC after the massacre of the protesters.
21st century Due to concerns about national security and human rights, the United States has gradually increased sanctions against Chinese businesses and organizations. , 721 Chinese businesses, organizations, and individuals have been added to the United States Department of Commerce's Entity List that restricts their ability to purchase goods from the United States.
Iran-related In 2023, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a Chinese state-owned enterprise that has provided geospatial intelligence to the Houthis. In October 2025, the U.S. added 15 Chinese companies to the Entity List for providing drone technology to the Houthis, Hamas, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Through the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, the United States has sanctioned and prosecuted Chinese companies and individuals for providing material assistance to Iran's missile program. In 2014, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Sinotech Dalian Carbon and Graphite Manufacturing Corporation for helping Iran buy parts to produce ballistic missiles. In June 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Zhejiang Qingji and other entities in mainland China and Hong Kong for selling centrifuge equipment to Iran. In September 2023, six Chinese entities were sanctioned for allegedly assisting the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation in making drones to attack oil tankers and for export to Russia's military. In April 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Chinese entities accused of being part of an Iranian procurement network. In October 2025, additional Chinese entities and individuals were sanctioned for their involvement in Iranian procurement networks for advanced missile technology.
In March 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a Chinese "teapot" oil refinery, Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical in Shandong, and related executives for violations of international sanctions against Iran. In April 2025, the U.S. sanctioned another teapot oil refinery. During the 2026 Iran war, the U.S. sanctioned a subsidiary of Hengli Group, the Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co. Ltd. and one of China's largest teapot refineries for processing Iranian crude oil. On 1 May 2026, the National Financial Regulatory Administration ordered Chinese banks to stop extending new loans to five U.S.-sanctioned refineries. But on 2 May 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce ordered companies and banks in the country to disregard U.S. sanctions on Chinese refineries, stating that such sanctions are a violation of international law.
Huawei and ZTE
In August 2018, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA 2019) which banned Huawei and ZTE equipment from being used by the U.S. federal government, citing security concerns.
In addition, on 15 May 2019, the Department of Commerce added Huawei and 70 foreign subsidiaries and "affiliates" to its Entity List under the Export Administration Regulations, citing the company having been indicted for "knowingly and willfully causing the export, re-export, sale and supply, directly and indirectly, of goods, technology and services (banking and other financial services) from the United States to Iran and the government of Iran without obtaining a license from the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)". This restricts U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei without a government license. Various U.S.-based companies immediately froze their business with Huawei to comply with the regulation. That same year, it was determined that Huawei also provided equipment to build North Korea’s 3G network.
Currency manipulator designation In August 2019, the United States Department of the Treasury designated China a currency manipulator, which resulted in China being excluded from U.S. government procurement contracts. The designation was withdrawn in January 2020 after China agreed to refrain from devaluing its currency to make its own goods cheaper for foreign buyers.
Uyghurs In 2019, the Xinjiang public security bureau and its subordinate municipal PSBs were to the Entity List for their role in human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. In 2020, the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Xinjiang public security bureau under the Global Magnitsky Act.
Hong Kong
The United States imposed six rounds of sanctions between 2020 and 2025 under Hong Kong Autonomy Act and Executive Order 13936 after the passage of the national security law for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and restricting freedom of Hong Kong people. Then Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her successor John Lee, then as Secretary for Justice, were sanctioned along with several Hong Kong and Chinese government officials and legislators.
Military–civil fusion
On 12 November 2020, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13959, titled "Addressing the Threat From Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies". The executive order prohibits all U.S. investors (institutional and retail investors alike) from purchasing or investing in securities of companies identified by the U.S. Department of Defense as "Communist Chinese military companies." As of 14 January 2021, 44 Chinese companies were identified. Five of these companies are to be delisted by the New York Stock Exchange by March 2021. On 13 January 2021, the executive order was amended to require divestment from the companies by 11 November 2021.
Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 requires the U.S. Department of Defense to release the names of all "Chinese military companies" operating directly or indirect in the United States.
Russo–Ukrainian war
In April 2022, United States Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen warned China that it could face consequences for not sanctioning Russia. In June 2022, the United States Department of Commerce placed five Hong Kong companies on the Bureau of Industry and Security's Entity List for providing support to Russia's military. The U.S. Treasury Department separately sanctioned a Chinese and an Armenian vendor for maintaining trade relationship with a Russian arms procurement firm. In September 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Sinno Electronics of Shenzhen for supplying a Russian military procurement network.
In January 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Spacety China, also known as Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd., for providing satellite imagery to the Wagner Group. In February 2023, the U.S. Commerce Department added AOOK Technology Ltd, Beijing Ti-Tech Science and Technology Development Co, Beijing Yunze Technology Co, and China HEAD Aerospace Technology Co to the Entity List for aiding Russia's military.
In March 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned five Chinese companies for supplying equipment to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation, which manufactures HESA Shahed 136 drones used by Russia against Ukraine.
In July 2023, the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence published a report stating that the Chinese government is assisting Russia to evade sanctions and providing it with dual-use technology.
In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce added 42 Chinese companies to the Entity List for supplying Russia with microelectronics for missile and drone guidance systems. In April 2024, the Department of Commerce sanctioned a Chinese company for supporting Russia's military through the procurement, development, and proliferation of Russian drones. In May 2024, the U.S. sanctioned 20 companies in mainland China and Hong Kong for supplying Russia's military. In October 2024, the U.S. sanctioned two companies, Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co. and Redlepus Vector Industry, involving the production of long-range attack drones for Russia, including the Garpiya.
In June 2025, a majority of U.S. senators supported secondary sanctions against Russia that would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports. China is one of the main consumers of Russian energy.
Semiconductor industry On 7 October 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security of the United States Department of Commerce implemented controls related to advanced computing and semiconductor manufacturing in China. Some of these controls began immediately whereas others became effective on 12 October 2022, and 21 October 2022.
In March 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce added 28 additional Chinese firms to the Entity List, including Inspur and Loongson, for acquiring American technology in support of the PLA. In October 2023, the Department of Commerce added Biren Technology and Moore Threads to the Entity List.