Finance

China removes countermeasures against two EU banks

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 24, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 25, 2026

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China removes countermeasures against two EU banks
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BEIJING, April 24 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry on Friday rolled back countermeasures against two banks in the EU after the bloc lifted its sanctions against two Chinese financial institutions

China Removes Countermeasures on Lithuania's Urbo Bankas and Mano Bankas

China Lifts Restrictions Following EU Sanctions Reversal

Background of Countermeasures

BEIJING, April 24 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry on Friday rolled back countermeasures against two banks in the EU after the bloc lifted its sanctions against two Chinese financial institutions.

Impacted Lithuanian Banks

The two banks are Lithuania's UAB Urbo Bankas and AB Mano Bankas, the commerce ministry statement showed.

Timeline of Events

The ministry announced the countermeasures in August last year in response to the bloc placing two Chinese financial institutions on a Russia-related sanctions list.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Yukun Zhang, Shi Bu and Ryan Woo, Editing by Louise Heavens)

Key Takeaways

  • China’s rollback follows the EU lifting sanctions on two Chinese financial institutions, prompting reciprocal policy adjustments.
  • The August 2025 countermeasures were enacted under China’s Anti‑Foreign Sanctions Law in response to the EU’s 18th Russia‑related sanctions package (news.cgtn.com).
  • While largely symbolic—Lithuanian banks had no presence in China—the initial response escalated broader China‑EU tensions over sanctions reciprocity (apnews.com).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Which EU banks had countermeasures lifted by China?
Lithuania's UAB Urbo Bankas and AB Mano Bankas had Chinese countermeasures removed.
Why did China remove countermeasures against the EU banks?
China lifted countermeasures after the EU ended its sanctions on two Chinese financial institutions.
When were the original countermeasures announced?
The countermeasures were announced in August last year after EU sanctions on two Chinese banks.
What prompted the EU to impose sanctions on Chinese banks?
The EU placed two Chinese financial institutions on a Russia-related sanctions list.

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