US CHINA Photo: VCG

Chinese genetics giant BGI Group told the Global Times on Sunday that it "disagrees with" a latest US move to slap export restrictions on some of its units and will keep active communications with relevant parties to ensure a fair and just treatment.

"The group is actively communicating with all parties on this matter to ensure fair and just treatment," said the company.

The response comes as Biden administration on Thursday added 37 companies to a trade blacklist, including units of Chinese genetics company BGI and Chinese cloud computing firm Inspur.

"We are aware of, and disagree with, the decision of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the US Department of Commerce to include BGI Research, BGI Tech Solutions (Hongkong) Co, and Forensic Genomics International on the Entity List," the BGI Group said in a statement on its official website.

Funded by BGI Group, BGI Research is a scientific research organization. Forensic Genomics International is a subsidiary of BGI Group. BGI Tech Solutions (Hongkong) Co is a subsidiary of BGI Genomics Co, a publicly listed subsidiary of BGI Group.

"We believe the BIS's decision may have been impacted by misinformation and we are willing and able to clarify. BGI Group's work strictly abides by local, regional, and global moral and ethical standards, and adheres to all required laws and regulations," read the statement.

"BGI Group does not condone and would never be involved in any human-rights abuses. None of BGI Group is state-owned or state-controlled, and all of BGI Group's services and research are provided for civilian and scientific purposes," it continued.

BGI Genomics, BGI's subsidiary, said in another statement it sent to the Global Times that the company is seeking additional details from the BIS about the specific reasons for BGI Tech's inclusion in the Entity List.

"BGI Tech's operating revenue in financial year 2022 is a relatively small percentage of BGI Genomics revenue. The inclusion of BGI Tech in the Entity List will not have a material impact on the company's operations," said the BGI genomics.

In response to the US' latest action, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press conference on Friday that this is another example of the US fabricating excuses and unscrupulously suppressing Chinese companies. China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to the move.

China urges the US to respect basic facts, abandon ideological prejudice, stop abusing various pretexts to unreasonably suppress Chinese companies, and provide fair, just and non-discriminatory treatment for Chinese companies, Mao said.

"China will also continue to firmly safeguard the legitimate and legitimate rights and interests of domestic companies, and support Chinese companies in safeguarding their own rights and interests in accordance with the law," said the official.

Global Times