The U.S. trade authority issued a critical statement after China sanctioned Hanwha Ocean's U.S. subsidiary.
Jamieson Greer of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said in a statement on the website on the 20th (local time) that "China's recent retaliatory measures targeting private corporations around the world are part of a pattern of broad economic coercion." He added, "The intent is to deter foreign corporations from investing in key U.S. industries such as shipbuilding in order to control global supply chains and influence U.S. politics."
He also said, "These threatening attempts will not stop the United States from rebuilding its shipbuilding base and responding appropriately to China's efforts to dominate key industrial sectors," adding, "We will remain committed to protecting corporations and encouraging allies to invest in the future of U.S. industry."
The statement did not explicitly name Hanwha Ocean by company name. Earlier, on the 14th, China's Ministry of Commerce banned individuals or organizations in China from engaging in transaction with Hanwha Ocean's U.S. affiliates. The targeted companies are Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc., Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings, and HS USA Holdings Corp., five in total.
Given that Hanwha Ocean's U.S. affiliates have little business conducting transaction with China, this is interpreted as a warning against cooperation between Korea's shipbuilding industry and the United States.