The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Photo: VCG

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Tuesday announced countermeasures against five US-based subsidiaries of South Korea's Hanwha Ocean Co, in response to the US' Section 301 investigation and related measures targeting China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries.

According to Order No. 6 of 2025 issued by the Ministry of Commerce's Bureau of Security and Control, this decision is made in compliance with China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and its implementing provisions. It takes effect immediately as of October 14, 2025.

The order stated that the US move to conduct and implement Section 301 measures against China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors "seriously violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and gravely undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises." 

It added that these companies have assisted and supported investigations conducted by the US government, endangering China's sovereignty, security and development interests. Tuesday's decision prohibits all organizations and individuals within China from conducting transactions, cooperation, or other related activities with these entities, per the ministry.

The five subsidiaries include Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc, Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC, and HS USA Holdings Corp, per the MOFCOM statement.

A MOFCOM spokesperson responded to media inquiries regarding the latest countermeasures, saying that on October 14, local time, the US began implementing its final measures under the Section 301 investigation into China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. The move "seriously violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and gravely undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Several US-based subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean Co had assisted and supported the US government's investigation and related actions against China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. "China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to such practices," the spokesperson said.

To safeguard its national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, China, upon approval by the National Counter-Foreign Sanctions Coordination Mechanism, has decided to include five US-related subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean Co in its countermeasure list, per the spokesperson.

The decision prohibits all organizations and individuals within China from engaging in transactions, cooperation, or other related activities with the listed entities, the spokesperson noted.

"China urges the US and relevant companies to respect facts and multilateral trade rules, adhere to the principles of a market economy and fair competition, promptly correct their wrongful practices, and stop harming China's interests," the spokesperson said.

Global Times