US adds 26 entities, including Chinese firms, to entity list

US adds 26 entities, including Chinese firms, to entity list

The United States has added 26 entities to its entity list, including several Chinese firms, in a move to tighten economic sanctions and address geopolitical tensions. This latest action follows a series of measures aimed at countering China's growing influence in various sectors, including maritime transport and technology. The addition of Chinese entities to the entity list comes amidst a broader context of U.S. efforts to bolster its domestic shipbuilding industry. The U.S. government has been working on imposing port fees on certain vessels with links to China, which is expected to cost the top 10 carriers $3.2 billion next year . This move is part of President Donald Trump's strategy to address China's dominance on the high seas. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has clarified that the burden of determining if a vessel owes the fee lies with the operator, not the agency. Fees must be paid through the Department of the Treasury’s Pay.gov website, not at the port of entry . The flat fee for vessels owned or operated by Chinese entities is $80 per net tonnage per voyage to the U.S., while non-Chinese operators of Chinese-built ships face a higher fee of either $23 per net tonnage or $154 per 20-foot equivalent unit capacity . The Chinese government has responded to these measures with a decree signed by Premier Li Qiang, pledging countermeasures against any discriminatory measures on Chinese ships or crews . This decree underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. In parallel, OpenAI has also taken steps to address the misuse of AI models by Chinese and Russian entities. The company has banned multiple ChatGPT accounts suspected of being associated with Chinese government entities and Russian-speaking criminal groups. These accounts were found to be misusing AI models for surveillance, influence campaigns, and malware development . The addition of these entities to the entity list is part of a broader strategy to protect U.S. interests and maintain a level playing field in global trade. The move is expected to have significant implications for the maritime transport industry and could lead to further geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.