On Tuesday, the U.S. Commerce Department implemented stricter regulations in order to prevent China from obtaining sophisticated computer chips that could potentially aid in the development of hypersonic missiles and artificial intelligence.

Gina Raimondo, the Secretary of Commerce, stated that the updated regulations aim to safeguard technologies that have obvious connections to national security or human rights concerns.

The implementation of the new regulations may escalate conflicts between the United States, the largest global economy, and China, the second largest. In recent discussions between top U.S. authorities and Beijing, China had requested for “tangible measures” from Washington to enhance the relationship between the two nations. However, U.S. officials had cautioned that new export policies were being developed.

Raimondo told reporters, “The vast majority of [the sale of] semiconductors [to China] will remain unrestricted. But when we identify national security or human rights threats, we will act decisively and in concert with our allies.”

The Commerce Department announced that the latest limitations were implemented following discussions with American chip producers and the completion of technological examinations.

The updated regulations permit the tracking of chip sales that may have potential military purposes, even if they do not meet the criteria for trade restrictions. The United States also stated that chip exports can be limited to companies based in Macao, a Chinese territory, or other countries that are subject to a U.S. arms embargo, in order to prevent them from bypassing the controls and supplying chips to China.

The revised limitations, an enlargement of export regulations declared in the previous year, also create obstacles for China’s production of sophisticated chips overseas. Additionally, the range of manufacturing machinery subject to export controls has been broadened, along with other amendments to the policy.

Last year, China expressed disapproval over export restrictions, arguing that the production and development of sophisticated semiconductors are crucial for its economic progress. Raimondo clarified that these limitations on chips are not intended to hinder China’s economy.

Government officials from China will be attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November.

The possibility of a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit has been mentioned, but it has not been officially confirmed. The two leaders last met after the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, shortly after the export controls were announced.

The Associated Press contributed to the content of this report.