China Sanctions
CNChina is currently subject to 5 active sanctions programs imposed by Global Affairs Canada, European Union Council, Office of Foreign Assets Control and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. These measures include asset freeze, arms embargo, investment ban and financial restrictions. This page lists every program targeting China, the legal bases behind them, and the most recent changes.
Last updated 3 Aug 2026
Programs
5
Authorities
4
Restriction Types
4
Restrictions
Sanctioning Authorities
Sanctions Programs
Canada's sanctions against China under the Special Economic Measures Act. Total designated: 13 (12 individuals, 1 entity). Earliest listing: 2021-03-21, latest listing: 2024-12-09.
Resources
The restrictive measures of this restrictive measures regime are described in a political Declaration of European Council made in Madrid, 27 June 1989 in relation to the events at the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: "“The European Council, recalling the declaration of the Twelve of 6 June, strongly condemns the brutal repression taking place in China. It expresses its dismay at the pursuit of executions in spite of all the appeals of the international community. It solemnly requests the Chinese authorities to stop the executions and to put an end to the repressive actions against those who legitimately claim their democratic rights. The European Council requests the Chinese authorities to respect human rights and to take into account the hopes for freedom and democracy deeply felt by the population. It underlines that this is an essential element for the pursuit of the policy of reforms and openness that has been supported by the European Community and its Member States. (…) In the present circumstances, the European Council thinks it necessary to adopt the following measures: - raising the issue of human rights in China in the appropriate international fora; asking for the admittance of independent observers to attend the trials and to visit the prisons; - interruption by the Member States of the Community of military cooperation and an embargo on trade in arms with China; - suspension of bilateral ministerial and high-level contacts; - postponement by the Community and its Member States of new cooperation projects; - reduction of programmes of cultural, scientific and technical cooperation to only those activities that might maintain a meaning in the present circumstances; - prolongation by the Member States of visas to the Chinese students who wish it. Taking into account the climate of uncertainty created in the economic field by the present policy of the Chinese authorities, the European Council advocates the postponement of the examination of new requests for credit insurance and the postponement of the examination of new credits of the World Bank.” Adopted by: EU. No persons or entities are currently designated under this regime.
Sanctions program addressing the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the People's Republic of China associated with the Chinese military-industrial complex. The program maintains a Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List and restricts U.S. persons from investing in publicly traded securities of designated companies.
Resources
+5 more
Under The Export Control Order 2008
Resources
UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong.
Resources
Recent Changes
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 1 guidance(s)
Legal basis updated for UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Added: Export Control Act 2002
Legal basis updated for UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Removed: Export Control Order 2008
Resources added
Added: 1 regulation(s), 2 federal_register_notice(s), 1 faq(s)
Legal basis updated for UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Added: Export Control Order 2008
Legal basis updated for UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Removed: Export Control Order 2008
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 2 federal_register_notice(s), 1 guidance(s), 1 list(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 1 regulation(s), 1 guidance(s), 1 list(s)
Legal basis updated for UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Added: Export Control Order 2008
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 2 federal_register_notice(s), 1 faq(s)
Legal basis updated for UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Removed: Export Control Order 2008
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 2 statute(s), 1 regulation(s), 2 federal_register_notice(s), 1 list(s), 2 guidance(s), 1 general_license_archive(s), 1 license_application(s)
Target countries updated
Added: VE, NG, SS, CF, ML, BJ, CI, AE, PH, CN, KH, PK, AF, TR, GR. Removed: HR, JM, NI, ZW, HT, LB
Restrictions removed
Removed: asset_freeze
New program: Specific restrictive measures in relation to the events at the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
New sanctions program detected: Specific restrictive measures in relation to the events at the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Restrictions added
Added: asset_freeze
Target countries updated
Added: RU, CN, KP, LY, SS, AF, MM, CF, IL, US, SY, IR, TR, UA
Target countries updated
Added: CN, RU
Restrictions removed
Removed: asset_freeze
Target countries updated
Added: CN
UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong renamed
Program renamed from "UK Arms Embargo on Mainland China and Hong Kong" to "UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong"
Target countries updated
Added: CN
Restrictions removed
Removed: trade_restrictions
Restrictions added
Added: travel_ban
Target countries updated
Added: CN
Restrictions removed
Removed: trade_restrictions
Restrictions added
Added: asset_freeze
Restrictions removed
Removed: asset_freeze
UK Arms Embargo on Mainland China and Hong Kong renamed
Program renamed from "UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong" to "UK Arms Embargo on Mainland China and Hong Kong"
Restrictions removed
Removed: travel_ban
Restrictions added
Added: travel_ban
Restrictions removed
Removed: trade_restrictions
Target countries updated
Added: CN
Restrictions removed
Removed: travel_ban
Restrictions added
Added: trade_restrictions
Target countries updated
Removed: KP
New program: UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
New sanctions program detected: UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong
Target countries updated
Added: KP
Target countries updated
Added: IR, SY, RU, CN
Target countries updated
Added: CN
Restrictions added
Added: travel_ban
Restrictions removed
Removed: sectoral
Restrictions added
Added: asset_freeze
Legal basis updated for OFAC Chinese Military Companies Sanctions
Added: Executive Order 14032 - Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Certain Companies of the People's Republic of China (June 03, 2021), Executive Order 13959 - Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies (November 12, 2020), International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706, National Emergencies Act (NEA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1651, 31 CFR 586 - Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Sanctions Regulations
Restrictions removed
Removed: asset_freeze
Restrictions added
Added: investment_ban, financial_restrictions, sectoral
New program: Canada China Sanctions
New sanctions program detected: Canada China Sanctions
New program: UK UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong sanctions
New sanctions program detected: UK UK arms embargo on mainland China and Hong Kong sanctions
New program: OFAC Chinese Military Companies Sanctions
New sanctions program detected: OFAC Chinese Military Companies Sanctions