China's top legislature on Saturday passed a law on export control, allowing the government to act against countries that abuse export controls in a way that harms China's interests.

With detailed stipulations on export-control lists and measures, the law was passed on Saturday at a bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body. It will go into effect on December 1. 

According to the law, China may "take reciprocal measures" against any country or region that abuses export-control measures and poses a threat to China's national security and interests. 

Besides military and nuclear products, the law also clarifies that technical data related to the items covered by the law is also subject to export-control stipulations.

It came after the United States last month set restrictions on exports to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., China's biggest chipmaker, and the Trump administration has taken various steps against another tech giant, Huawei, and apps TikTok and WeChat.

The latest measure gives Beijing more room to safeguard national security and interests, after the commerce ministry issued a revised list of technologies that are banned or restricted for export in August.

(With input from agencies)