US Commerce Department Delays Adding DeepSeek, CXMT to Entity List

The US Commerce Department has paused its plan to add more than 100 Chinese companies to the Entity List, including artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek and memory chip maker CXMT. This temporary hold aims to avoid further escalation of trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. The decision leaves export restrictions on these firms unchanged for now.

Temporary hold leaves export restrictions unchanged while analysts assess business strategy adaptations.

The move affects major players in China's technology sector who faced potential new sanctions. DeepSeek specializes in artificial intelligence research and development, whereas CXMT manufactures memory chips for the semiconductor industry. Both companies were scheduled to face additional export controls under the previous timeline.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the use of export controls as political tools during a press briefing. The spokesperson stressed that these actions disrupt international trade networks and hinder collaborative innovation efforts. The US government has not updated its Entity List with new additions since October last year.

Market analysts suggest the temporary halt allows impacted companies time to adapt their business strategies. The delay does not signal a permanent shift in policy, but it halts immediate regulatory action for now.