The department is adding Tianjin Phytium Information Technology, Shanghai High-Performance Integrated Circuit Design Center, Sunway Microelectronics, the National Supercomputing Center Jinan, the National Supercomputing Center Shenzhen, the National Supercomputing Center Wuxi, and the National Supercomputing Center Zhengzhou to its blacklist. The Commerce Department said the seven were “involved with building supercomputers used by China’s military actors, its destabilising military modernisation efforts, or weapons of mass destruction programs”.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said supercomputing capabilities are vital for the development of many – perhaps almost all – modern weapons and national security systems, such as nuclear weapons and hypersonic weapons.

Companies or others listed on the US Entity List must apply for licences from the Commerce Department that face tough scrutiny when they seek permission to receive items from US suppliers.

The new rules take effect immediately but do not apply to goods from US suppliers already on their way.