SINGAPORE—China blocked Wells Fargo banker Chenyue Mao from leaving the country because she is required to assist in a criminal probe, China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday, marking Beijing’s first confirmation of the exit ban.

Beijing confirmed that China-born, Atlanta-based Mao Chenyue is banned from leaving the country. This comes during a trade war with the Trump administration.

China's foreign ministry said on Monday Chenyue Mao, the Wells Fargo banker who has been blocked from leaving the country, was involved in a criminal case and was obliged to cooperate with the investigation.