ANKARA

China on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five US-linked South Korean companies, including Hanwha Marine Corporation, in response to Washington's probe into China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries, according to an official statement.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced the decision, stating that the new measures will take effect from Tuesday.

The ministry said the US actions “seriously violate international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely damage the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”

It accused Hanwha Marine's US subsidiaries of cooperating with the US government's investigation, "endangering China's sovereignty, security, and development interests."

"China has decided to add five US-related subsidiaries of Hanwha Marine Corporation, namely Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc., Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC, and HS USA Holdings Corp, to the counter-measures list," it said.

The ministry also prohibited Chinese organizations and individuals from conducting transactions, cooperating, or engaging in other activities with these entities.

China's Transport Ministry has initiated an investigation into how the US Section 301 investigation affects the security and development interests of its shipping and shipbuilding sectors, as well as related industrial and supply chains, according to state-run Xinhua News.

The latest move follows Washington's imposition of new port fees on Chinese-built or operated ships.

China also announced last week that starting Tuesday, it will charge US ships for docking at Chinese ports in retaliation for Washington's imposition of fees on Chinese vessels entering US ports.