The US Department of Commerce added BGI Research and BGI Tech Solutions (Hongkong) to the list over allegations the units pose a “significant risk” of contributing to Chinese government surveillance.

The additions included several entities the Department said were supplying or attempting to supply a sanctioned entity in Iran and three firms in Russia, Belarus and Chinese Taipei that were contributing to Moscow’s military.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce Thea Kendler said that entities that pose a national security or foreign policy concern for the United States are identified and added to the Entity List to ensure their transactions are scrutinized.