China accused Washington of damaging global trade with sanctions that threaten to cripple tech giant Huawei and said it will protect Chinese companies but gave no indication of possible retaliation.
Rules confirmed Monday by the Commerce Department block suppliers from using U.S. technology to produce processor chips and other components for Huawei. The company, China's first global tech competitor, is the biggest supplier of switching equipment for phone companies and a leading smartphone brand.
The foreign ministry demanded the Trump administration "stop suppressing Chinese companies.''
Huawei Technologies is at the center of a worsening row between Washington and Beijing over technology and security. U.S. officials say Huawei is a security risk, which the company denies, and are lobbying European and other allies to avoid its technology as they upgrade to next-generation networks.
The United States is ``violating international trade rules, and undermining the global industrial chain, supply chain, and value chain,'' said a ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian.
Beijing will ``take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,'' Zhao said. Chinese officials frequently use that phrase during trade disputes but it often has been followed by no official action.
Huawei declined to comment on the latest U.S. action.-AP
