In a notable escalation of trade tensions, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has issued a formal blocking order prohibiting domestic entities from complying with US sanctions. This order specifically protects five major Chinese petrochemical companies, including Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining Co., Ltd. and Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., which have been targeted by Washington for their alleged involvement in the Iranian oil trade. This is the first time China has invoked its blocking statute, a legal mechanism aimed at countering the extraterritorial application of foreign laws. The US sanctions, which include placing these firms on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, freezing their assets, and restricting transactions, have been criticized by the MOC as improper restrictions on normal economic exchanges. The MOC spokesperson emphasized that these unilateral sanctions are not authorized by the United Nations and violate international law. The blocking order reflects China's intent to safeguard its national interests and protect the rights of its companies.