Previously, U.S. policy was that Americans were forbidden to invest in companies included in a "blacklist" of Chinese companies directly involved in China's military, and in producing applications used by the Communist regime to oppress its own people and threaten its neighbors. 

It can also be seen as part of a long easing of economic sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, without obtaining any benefit for American prestige or negotiating leverage with China in return. The 48 companies included on the initial Trump administration blacklist all work directly with the People's Liberation Army, Chinese intelligence, or otherwise provide artificial-intelligence products and services used by Beijing to deny the human rights of its Uighur minority.

As published by the Gatestone Institute
Image source: Alex Wong/Getty Images