BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday announced a decision to take countermeasures against six U.S. entities, including Applied DNA Sciences.

Photo taken on April 4, 2018 shows the entrance to China's Ministry of Commerce in Beijing. (File photo: Xinhua)

These countermeasures, which took effect on Wednesday, were adopted in response to the United States' sanctions against Chinese companies under the pretext of so-called "forced labor," according to the ministry.

The U.S. move seriously violates international law and the basic norms of international relations, and gravely undermines China's sovereignty, security and development interests, the ministry said.