The US is delaying the formal inclusion of more than 100 Chinese companies – including the AI start-up DeepSeek and the chip manufacturer CXMT – on its trade blacklist due to fears of escalating tensions with China. Although an inter-agency committee approved their inclusion last year, the updated list has not been published for more than eight months. This pause in the application of sanctions weakens controls over the supply of US technology to potential security threats.
- The US has not updated its blacklist since October 2025.
- DeepSeek, CXMT and over 100 companies have been approved for blocking but have not been published.
- The companies are linked to Chinese military support and the supply of drones to Russia.
- The lack of updates weakens control over American technology.
Delay in updating the Entity List in the US
The US trade blacklist, known as the Entity List, was last updated in October 2025 — the longest period without changes in the last decade. An inter-agency committee, comprising representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Defence, Energy, Foreign Affairs and Finance, approved the addition of over 100 Chinese companies, including an AI start-up DeepSeek and the microchip manufacturer CXMT. However, their official inclusion on the list has not yet been published.
Chinese companies as a threat to US national security
DeepSeek is known for its low-cost AI models, which are actively used by the Chinese military and intelligence services. According to US sources, this company, together with CXMT, supports technological developments for military purposes. Furthermore, some of the companies facing a ban have supplied components for Russian drones, which were seized in Poland, is causing further concern in the US.
Political risks and their impact on technological competition
The delay in publishing the updated blacklist reflects the administration’s desire to avoid further escalation of tensions with China. At the same time, this poses risks, as US technology could fall into the hands of potential adversaries. Experts point out that the absence of new sanctions weakens one of the key instruments of US national security.
The Interdepartmental Committee and internal disagreements
Decisions on adding companies to the Entity List are taken by a committee comprising representatives from various ministries. Although most companies have been approved for inclusion on the list, the Ministry of Trade is delaying the official announcement. According to sources, this is due to concerns about the impact on diplomatic relations with China and a desire to avoid further escalation of the technology conflict.
Implications for the global technology market
A delay in imposing sanctions could have far-reaching consequences for global supply chains, particularly in the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors. The absence of clear restrictions enables Chinese companies to acquire critical technologies, potentially strengthening their competitive position on the world stage. At the same time, this jeopardises the security of the US and its allies due to the possible use of these technologies for military purposes.
