The Trump administration on Tuesday announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots to the United States over “unacceptable risks” to US national security.

The measure applies to advanced robots, including humanoid and four-legged machines. Many of them are manufactured in China, which competes with the United States in the development of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also banned imports of power inverters (devices used in data centers and solar panels) which it said could also pose a risk to the US economy.

The Chinese embassy in Washington said Beijing has long opposed the “politicization” of trade issues and sanctions by the United States based on “baseless pretexts.”

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency was doing its part “to secure America’s critical supply chains.”

The FCC has added the items to its Covered List, a registry of goods and services that are considered a risk to the national security of the United States.

The ban applies to new advanced robotic devices and power inverters produced abroad and does not prevent the sale or import of any existing models that have been previously authorized by the FCC.

The FCC cited concerns that the use of foreign-made inverters could allow foreign companies to shut them down, steal data, facilitate remote access and surveillance by “foreign government actors, or otherwise be exploited through a cyber attack.”

He added that the use of robots manufactured outside the United States could allow “malign actors to surveil Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or remotely control the robots.”

The Chinese embassy in Washington also said that Beijing “will take all necessary measures” in response to any measures that harm its interests, and urged all countries to work together to develop AI “for the positive and for the good.”

He called on the United States to “abandon its hegemonic mentality and stop slandering Chinese companies and threatening them with sanctions.”

The BBC has contacted major Chinese robot manufacturers Unitree, UBTech and AgiBot for comment.