The Trump administration has reportedly postponed plans to place Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek and memory chipmaker CXMT on a major US trade blacklist.
According to Reuters, an interagency committee approved both Chinese companies for inclusion on the blacklist last year. However, the administration has not yet moved forward with the decision.
Washington Seeks to Avoid Further Tensions With Beijing
The reported delay comes as Washington attempts to prevent a further escalation in tensions with Beijing.
The United States and China remain divided over several major issues, including international trade, advanced technology and national security.
By holding back the new restrictions, the US administration may be seeking to preserve room for negotiations with the Chinese government.
More Than 100 Companies Await Blacklist Decision
More than 100 companies identified as potential national security threats are reportedly waiting to be added to the US Commerce Department’s Entity List.
The group includes at least 75 Chinese companies involved in advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, chip manufacturing and semiconductor equipment.
However, the Commerce Department has not yet officially published their names on the trade blacklist.
DeepSeek Faces US National Security Concerns
DeepSeek attracted worldwide attention after introducing low-cost artificial intelligence models capable of competing with more expensive Western systems.
Despite its rapid growth, US officials have accused the Chinese AI startup of assisting China’s military and intelligence activities.
These allegations have increased concerns in Washington about the possible national security risks connected to advanced Chinese AI technology.
CXMT Previously Linked to China’s Military
ChangXin Memory Technologies, commonly known as CXMT, is China’s leading producer of memory chips.
The US Department of Defense previously classified CXMT as a Chinese military company. This designation increased expectations that the chipmaker could face additional American trade restrictions.
CXMT plays an important role in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign semiconductor technology.
What Is the US Entity List?
The Entity List limits the ability of American companies to export products, software and technology to designated foreign businesses.
US suppliers usually need special government licences before they can sell restricted technology or equipment to companies included on the list.
The restrictions are designed to prevent sensitive American technology from being used in activities that could threaten US national security.
US Trade Blacklist Updates Remain on Hold
The United States has not announced any new additions to the Entity List since October 2025.
According to experts cited by Reuters, this represents the longest pause between blacklist updates in more than a decade.
The delay involving DeepSeek, CXMT and dozens of other Chinese technology companies highlights the difficult balance Washington faces between protecting national security and avoiding a deeper confrontation with Beijing.
