Issue List-based US military-security restrictions on China remain a lasting issue

Summary

America First shapes non-economic disputes as well, but under Trump's second term they carry less weight than economic issues and were barely addressed at the October 2025 summit held in Korea. Forced labour sanctions under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a Biden-era priority, receive little emphasis, and the America First trade memo does not mention forced labour at all. Trade dialogue with Taiwan is also unlikely to be fully revived if Washington returns to its first-term stance, despite ongoing talks over reciprocal tariffs. By contrast, list-based restrictions grounded in national security, such as the MEU list, the NS-CMIC list and the 1260H list, aim to keep Chinese military firms out of federal procurement and to curb China's military influence. Because the US sees China as its most threatening military and security competitor, the report expects these lists to remain a major issue for a considerable period beyond the current administration.