China to lift 8-month ban on imports of Illumina’s gene sequencers

Illumina said Wednesday the Chinese Ministry of Commerce will lift its ban on imports of the San Diego company’s gene sequencers to customers in China.

The ban, which has been in place since March 4 following President Trump’s doubling of tariffs on China, is expected to be lifted on Nov. 10.

Illumina will remain on China’s “unreliable entities list,” however, with purchases subject to Chinese government approval.

“We are pleased with the announcement from MOFCOM, which is a very positive step forward. Illumina will continue to engage with authorities and stakeholders as we work toward a long-term resolution,” said Jacob Thaysen, CEO of Illumina.

“I want to thank our customers for their trust and support, and our team in China and around the world for their dedication and resilience,” he said.

The ban covered imports of Illumina’s gene sequencing machines, but not supplies needed to run the machines used by existing customers.

Illumina said it remains remains committed to serving customers in China, noting that it has operated in that market for two decades.

The company is the world leader in gene sequencing, but faces growing competition from China’s BGI Group.