China counters US tech restrictions with targeted measures

Editor's note: China on Wednesday unveiled a package of countermeasures in response to a series of recent US measures targeting Chinese companies. The measures include suspending the authorization for US-based bodies to conduct follow-up factory inspections under the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) system, launching a national security investigation into imported office equipment equipped with foreign system software, and tightening export controls on certain dual-use drone items destined for the United States. Two experts shared their views with China Daily's Li Wei.

Precision, not escalation

Trade disputes are often judged by how hard each side strikes. China’s latest response suggests that another measure may matter more: how precisely it strikes.

The CCC measure is a targeted adjustment rather than a sweeping restriction. It changes one part of the certification process without disrupting the broader framework governing market access.

But China has neither suspended CCC certification applications from US companies nor closed its market to products from the United States. The compliance channel remains open. What has changed is the boundary of regulatory cooperation.

This reflects a more measured approach to managing bilateral frictions. Instead of broad retaliation, the latest measures focus on specific points where China can respond proportionately while retaining room for future dialogue.

As competition between major economies becomes more complex, precision may prove more effective than escalation. A response that is targeted, restrained and reversible sends a signal of resolve without closing the door to engagement.

Hu Qimu is a professor of the Maritime Silk Road Institute, Huaqiao University.