Beijing has condemned the decision by the USA to add 23 Chinese companies to its economic blacklist amid concerns over human rights abuse and the treatment of minority Muslim communities in Xinjiang. China has labeled the move an "unreasonable suppression of Chinese firms" and has promised to "take necessary measures to safeguard China's legitimate rights and interests."

       Chinese firms on the sanctions list are generally required to apply for trade licenses for the US Department of Commerce and face tough scrutiny when they seek permission to receive items from US suppliers.

       Washington also added five entities it said directly supported China's military modernization programme.

       It comes as Conservative MP Alicia Kearns shared her concerns that UK exports to China may play a part in stopping the Uyghur community from living their life freely.

       Ms Kearns told Express.co.uk: "We need to make sure that where we legislate it is legislating to protect people.

       "One of the things I did was I asked the Foreign Affairs committee to do the inquiry into what was happening in Xinjiang.

       "And one of the things we looked at was exactly that are we currently exporting kit that allows them to subvert their population.

       "Are we exporting equipment to them that allows them to control people and incarcerate people?"

       The MP for Rutland and Melton added: "We have to make sure that we are not exporting to China those thingsa and there has been a lot of discussions about importing particularly around cotton and things like that, but the exporting point has been missed and it is so important we don't allow ourselves to be exporting things that do stop and suppress populations from living their lives freely."