China on Saturday warned against a newly introduced export control bill in the United States House of Representatives, which seeks to impose stricter restrictions on equipment used in the production of advanced semiconductors, Xinhua reported.
China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that it would take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its companies. The ministry cautioned that a series of export control bills approved by the U.S. congressional committee could disrupt global trade and threaten the stability of international supply chains.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Multilateral Alignment of Technology Controls on Hardware (MATCH) Act along with other export control measures.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce reaffirmed Beijing’s opposition, criticizing what it described as the ‘over-extension of the concept of national security and the abuse of export controls.’
“If enacted, the relevant bills will seriously undermine the international economic and trade order and significantly disrupt the stability of global semiconductor industrial and supply chains,” the spokesperson said.
The warning comes ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for May, which had initially been set for late March but was postponed due to the ongoing war in Iran.
“China will closely monitor the legislative process, carefully assess the impact on Chinese interests, and take resolute and necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” the spokesperson added.
The United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, continue to remain in conflict over multiple issues, including trade relations and the status of Taiwan.
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