US ‘politicising business’, says Chinese anti-virus firm blacklisted from importing tech from America

Beijing: One of China’s biggest tech companies has criticised the Trump administration for “politicising business” after it slapped export sanctions on 33 more Chinese enterprises and government entities.

The new measures announced on Friday expanded a US campaign against Chinese companies Washington says might be security threats or involved in human rights abuses.

Beijing criticised curbs imposed earlier on tech giant Huawei and other Chinese companies but has yet to say whether it will retaliate.

The most prominent name on the latest blacklist is Qihoo 360, a major supplier of anti-virus software and a web browser. The decision to add the companies to the Commerce Department’s Entity List limits their access to US components and technology by requiring government permission for exports.