On Monday, China’s Commerce Ministry announced it was filing a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), over new rules limiting the export of chips imposed by the United States government.

The complaint notes the new restrictions threaten the interests of Chinese companies.

In an official statement, the ministry said, “China filed a lawsuit within the WTO framework as a necessary way to address our concerns through legal means and to defend our legitimate rights and interests.”

In addition the complaint noted the ban would affect the stability of global industrial supply chains.

It went on, “The US has been… abusing export control measures, obstructing normal international trade in products such as chips, undermining the international economic and trade order… which is a typical trade protectionist practice.”

The new rules were imposed by the US Department of Commerce in October. They were designed to prevent the export of high-end computer chips to China that could be used for military purposes, particularly the development of artificial intelligence technology. China has derided the measures as unfair, and had said they will backfire on US companies.

Washington acknowledged the WTO had delivered to it a “request for consultations,” which is the initial step used in the organization to resolve disputes between members. The US has said that it considers the export limitations it imposed to be a matter of national security. In an email, Adam Hodge, spokesman for the Office of the US Trade Representative, noted that, “the WTO is not the appropriate forum to discuss issues related to national security.”