China said it will “resolutely retaliate” and protect its interests if the United States continues to act unilaterally over its ban on new Chinese-made robots and power inverters.
In a statement Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry urged the United States to immediately withdraw the measures and stop what it described as its “erroneous actions.” The ministry said the restrictions unfairly discriminate against and suppress Chinese companies and products.
The response came after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced new measures Tuesday aimed at protecting the country’s artificial intelligence industry and other fast-growing sectors from national security threats.
China said the FCC ignored Beijing’s repeated concerns and continued expanding its restrictive measures against Chinese products.
The ministry also accused the United States of misusing the concept of national security, calling the move an act of market distortion and unilateral bullying that ignores the interests of both Chinese and American industries.
Notably, Donald Trump administration on Tuesday announced a ban on the import of new foreign-made humanoid robots into the United States, saying the devices pose “unacceptable risks” to the country’s national security.
The ban covers advanced robots, including humanoid and four-legged machines, many of which are manufactured in China. China is one of the United States’ main competitors in the development of robotics and artificial intelligence.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also banned the import of power inverters, which are commonly used in data centers and solar power systems. The agency said the devices could also pose a risk to the U.S. economy.
