China’s “unreliable entity list” will not target any specific sector, company or individual, Commerce Ministry Spokesman Gao Feng said at a weekly press conference Thursday.

The commerce ministry said last week that China plans to place foreign companies and individuals considered to have damaged the interests of Chinese companies on the unreliable entity list. The move is seen as a response to the U.S. putting Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. on its “Entity List,” restricting American companies from selling to the Chinese telecom giant without government approval.

Gao said Thursday that China’s own list will be designed to curb practices that distort market order for nonbusiness purposes and will be drafted under the framework of the World Trade Organization to ensure that the legal operations of companies will be protected.

"It is common practice in antitrust laws in many countries," Gao said during the press conference. "Companies that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and respect the spirit of contracts will have nothing to worry about."

Details about the list will be released in near term, said Guo.

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