US Arms Control/Nonproliferation Sanctions Against China

U.S. Nonproliferation Sanctions Against China And/Or Chinese Entities

This page provides a survey for reference purposes of the history and status of arms control/nonproliferation-related sanctions imposed against China and/or Chinese entities by the United States.

Updated October 2007

DATE & STATUS	SANCTIONS	DESCRIPTION
17 April 2007 Ongoing	Imposed on two entities: Shanghai Non-Ferrous Metals Pudong Development Trade Co., LTD (Zhongguo Guoji Zai Sheng Ziyuan Maoyi Dahui) and China National Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC)	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Vol. 72, No. 77 of Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act (ISNA)
28 Dec 2006 Ongoing	Imposed on two entities: China National Electronic Import-Export Company (CEIEC) and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Company (CATIC)	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Vol. 72, No. 3 of Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act (ISNA)
15 Aug 2006 Removed from Treasury list in 12/06.	Imposed on one Chinese entity: Great Wall Airlines (Changcheng Hangkong)	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Executive Order 13382. Added to US Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons
13 Jun 2006 On-going.	Imposed on five Chinese entities: Beijing Alite Technologies Company Ltd. (AlCO), LIMMT Economic and Trade Company Ltd., China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), China National Precision Machinery Import Export Corporation (CPMIEC), G.W. Aerospace, Inc. (a U.S. office of CGWIC).	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Executive Order 13382. Added to US Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons
23 Dec 2005 Duration of two years.	Imposed on six Chinese entities: China Aero-Technology Import Export Corporation (CATIC), China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, LIMMT Metallurgy and Minerals Company Ltd., Ounion (Asia) International Economic and Technical Cooperation Ltd., Zibo Chemet Equipment Company.	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
27 Dec 2004 Duration of two years.	Imposed on seven Chinese entities: Beijing Alite Technologies Company Ltd., China Aero-Technology Import Export Corporation (CATIC), China Great Wall Industry Corporation, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), Q. C. Chen, Wha Cheong Tai Company, Zibo Chemet Equipment Corporation Ltd.	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
24 Nov 2004 Duration of two years.	Imposed on four Chinese entities: Liaoning Jiayi Metals and Mineral Co. Ltd., Wha Cheong Tai Co. Ltd., Shanghai Triple International Ltd, and Q. C. Chen	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
23 Sept 2004 Duration of two years.	Imposed on seven Chinese firms: Beijing Institute of Aerodynamics, Beijing Institute of Opto-Electronic Technology (BIOET), China Great Wall Industry Corporation, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), LIMMT Economic and Trade Company, Ltd, Oriental Scientific Instruments Corporation (OSIC), and South Industries Science and Technology Trading Co., Ltd	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
20 Sept 2004 Duration of two years.	Imposed on Xinshidai Company (China New Era Group)	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Executive Orders 12938 and 13094.
1 April 2004 Duration of two years.	Imposed sanctions on five Chinese firms: Beijing Institute of Opto-Electronic Technology (BIOET), China Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC), Oriental Scientific Instruments Corporation (OSIC), Zibo Chemical Equipment Plant (Chemet Global Ltd.), and China North Industries Corporation (Norinco).	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
19 Sept 2003 Duration of two years.	Imposed sanctions for a third time in one year on China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) for alleged "missile technology proliferation activities."	Ban on imports, new export licenses, and U.S. Government. Declared sanctions apply to any other Chinese state-owned entities engaged in activities related development of any missile equipment, electronics, space systems or equipment, and military aircraft. However, sanction on missile-technology related imports would be waived for a period of one year for reasons "essential to the national security of the United States."
24 July 2003 Duration not specified; Until otherwise waived by the Secretary of State.	Imposed sanctions against China Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC) for transfer of missile technology. Sanctions include ban on U.S. government procurement and any imports of CPMIEC goods into the United States	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Executive Orders 12938 and 13094.
3 July 03 Duration of two years or until otherwise waived by the Secretary of State.	Imposed sanctions against one North Korean and five Chinese entities: Changgwang Sinyong Corporation (North Korea), Taian Foreign Trade General Corporation, Zibo Chemical Equipment Plant, Liyang Yunlong Chemical Equipment Group Company, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), and China Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC).	Imposed pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
23 May 03 Duration of two years or until otherwise waived by the Secretary of State.	Imposed sanctions against North China Industries Corporation (Norinco), including ban on U.S. government procurement and any imports of Norinco goods into the United States	Imposed pursuant to provisions of Executive Orders 12938 and 13094.
9 July 02 Duration minimum of two years.	Imposed against the Jiangsu Yongli Chemicals and Technology Import and Export Corporation (China); Q.C. Chen (China); China Machinery and Equipment Import Export Corporation (China); China National Machinery and Equipment Import Export Corporation (China); CMEC Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company Ltd. (China); CMEC Machinery and Electrical Import Export Company, Ltd. (China); China Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company (China); Wha Cheong Tai Company Ltd. (China); China Shipbuilding Trading Company (China); Hans Raj Shiv (India)	Imposed pursuant to the Iran-Iraq Nonproliferation Act of 1992.
09 May 02 Duration minimum of two years.	Imposed against the Liyang Chemical Equipment Company (Liyang Yunlong of China); the Zibo Chemical Equipment Plant (Chemet Global Ltd of China); the China National Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company; the Wha Cheong Tai Company of China; the China Shipbuilding Trading Company; the China Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation; the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, and Q.C. Chen, a Chinese businessman.	Imposed pursuant to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
16 Jan 02 Duration minimum of two years.	Imposed against Liyang Chemical Equipment, China Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company and a Chinese Individual	Imposed pursuant to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.
1 September 2001 Valid at least until 2003.	Prohibition of US exports of MTCR Annex items to the China Metallurgical Equipment Corporation. The Bush Administration (43) also banned the licensing of US satellite exports to China until this matter is resolved.	Imposed pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act, and the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended. This law is also known as 1990 Missile Control Act. Imposed against China Metallurgical Equipment Corporation (a/k/a CMEC, a/k/a MECC) (China) and its sub-units and successors.
18 June 2001 Valid at least until 2003.	Prohibition of US government procurement of goods or services from the sanctioned entity	Imposed pursuant to the Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. Imposed against Jiangsu Yongli Chemicals and Technology Import and Export Corporation Actual specifics of transfer classified, but reports indicate the company was involved in export of dual-use items covered in the Australia Group but not in the CWC.
21 May 1997 Duration of a minimum of one year.	Prohibition of US government procurement of goods or services from the sanctioned entities or persons Prohibition of the importation into the United States of any products produced by the sanctioned entities	Imposed pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. Imposed against five Chinese individuals, two Chinese companies, and one Hong Kong company for knowingly and materially contributing to Iran's chemical weapons program. The entities and individuals were involved in the export of dual-use chemical precursors and/or chemical production equipment and technology. Imposed against: Liao Minglong, Tian Yi, and Chen Qingchang (aka QC Chen), Pan Yongming, and Shao Xingsheng (all Chinese citizens); Nanjing Chemical Industries Group (NCI) (Chinese company); Jiangsu Yongli Chemical Engineering and Technology Import/Export Corp (Chinese company); Cheong Yee Limited (Hong Kong company)
24 August 1993 Waived 1 November 1994; Sanctions against Pakistani Ministry of Defense expired August 1995.	Prohibition of the export of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) items and US government contracts; China criticized the sanctions on the grounds that they were based on inaccurate intelligence	Imposed pursuant to the 1990 Missile Technology Control Act. The US Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs determined that China's Ministry of Aerospace Industry and Pakistan's Ministry of Defense had engaged in missile technology proliferation activities. Imposed against the two entities and their subsidiaries, etc., denying export licenses for items in the MTCR Annex for two years, and denial of US govt. contracts relating to the same items. Also imposed against Chinese govt. organizations involved in development or production of electronics, space systems, or equipment and military aircraft. Imposed against (Chinese entities): Chinese Ministry of Aerospace Industry (MAI) MAI subsidiaries sanctioned: China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC) China National Space Administration (CNSA) China Aerospace Corporation (CASC) China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) Beijing Wan Yuan Industry Corporation (BWYIC) China Haiying Company Shanghai Astronautics Industry Bureau (SHBOA) China Chang Feng Group (Pakistani entities): Ministry of Defense On 1 November 1994, subsequent to the 4 October 1994 US-China joint statement on missile proliferation, the US State Department determined that in the interest of US national security, it was essential to waive the sanctions against the Chinese Ministry of Aerospace Industry and all its subsidiaries. Sanctions against the Pakistani Ministry of Defense remained in place.
25 June 1991 Waived 23 March 1992; Sanctions against Pakistan's SUPARCO expired.	Prohibition of the export of missile-related computer technology and satellites	Imposed pursuant to the 1990 Missile Technology Control Act. Restricting the export of missile technology, missile-related computers and satellites. No waivers on satellite export licenses. Imposed against (Chinese entities): China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC); China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). (Pakistani entity): Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). The Bush administration announced on 21 February 1992 that the sanctions would be waived for national security reasons.
22 October 1987 Lifted 9 March 1988.	Suspension of high-tech imports to China	The Reagan Administration, in response to the Chinese sales of anti-ship missiles to Iran on 22 October 1987, suspended the process of gradual liberalization of the sophistication of high-tech items that were permitted to be sold to China. During Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian's March 1988 visit to Washington, DC, the US State Department announced that the Reagan Administration was lifting the suspension because it was satisfied that China was not selling Silkworm missiles to Iran.
16 December 1985 Active.	Prohibition of the export of nuclear materials, facilities, or components	On 23 July 1985, China and the US signed a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. US Congress enacted an approval resolution (PL 99-183) that requires presidential certification of certain conditions before export licenses may be issued for nuclear material, facilities or components covered by the agreement.

[US NONPROLIFERATION SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA - STATEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS]

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.