China sanctions US firm Kharon, provider of research on Xinjiang

China’s foreign ministry said it had sanctioned Kharon, a U.S. firm founded by former Treasury Department officials that provides data to companies on alleged forced labour in the Xinjiang region to help them comply with U.S. laws.
The foreign ministry said on Tuesday it would take “countermeasures” against Kharon and its director of investigations for providing “so-called evidence for America’s illegal sanctions related to Xinjiang”.
In response, Los-Angeles based Kharon said it had no presence in China, so the action was “largely symbolic” and would not impact its operations or ability to service its clients.
“In service of our clients and all global businesses that seek to implement leading risk management programs, Kharon will continue to provide research and data analytics that is objective, independent, and based on reliable sources,” i.
A former researcher of the U.S.-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies will also be subject to sanctions.