Washington: The United States on September 19, imposed its "strongest" economic sanctions thus far on China for selling missile technology to "rogue states."

The sanctions, described by State Department officials as the "strongest we have ever imposed on China" were directed at the state-run conglomerate Norinco and bans all export licences on controlled US goods to China.

It also prohibits launches of US satellites on Chinese rocket boosters, the 'Washington Times' reported, quoting officials requesting anonymity.

Additionally, the sanctions triggered a provision of the Arms Export Control Act that could lead to a ban on imports of a large number of Chinese goods into the US.

All of Norinco's products are banned from entering the US under the new sanctions.

However, even more severe sanctions that cover other major Chinese companies were waived for one year but officials said they could be triggered if China continues to permit its companies to sell missiles to "rogue States".

These sanctions could cost China "billions of Dollars" on lost sales, the officials said.

However, no details of the missile-related sale, which led to the sanctions were made public and the identity of the missile goods purchase was not disclosed.

This is the third time in four months that China has been hit with sanctions for violating the US laws regarding the spread of weapons of mass destruction and missile delivery systems for those weapons.

PTI