The move was the latest escalation in the back and forth between Beijing and Washington over products considered vital to national security.

American companies have largely gone silent about the importance of the U.S.-China relationship—they no longer see China as the land of opportunity.

China's Ministry of Commerce adds 28 U.S. entities to export control list to "safeguard national security and interests."

Yet Trump seems to be softening on China before he even begins his second term. The most obvious consolation to China is Trump’s flip-flop on TikTok, the social media app whose parent company is a Chinese tech juggernaut.