Speaking Friday to a group of executives from some top U.S. businesses, Yellen attacked the Chinese government’s treatment of companies with foreign connections and its recent decision to place export controls on materials used to make semiconductor chips. 

She said at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China that she is sharing the concerns she has heard from U.S. business leaders with her Chinese counterparts during her trip, including the creation of barriers for foreign companies to access the market. 

“I’ve been particularly troubled by punitive actions that have been taken against U.S. firms in recent months,” she said. 

Yellen’s trip is part of an effort from U.S. officials to ease what have been increasingly rising tensions with China in recent months; Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited last month with the same goal. 

The U.S. and China recently had a couple of close calls of vessels and jets nearly colliding in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. 

The Biden administration placed technology restrictions on China last year, and China has responded with greater scrutiny of U.S. companies. 

The Times reported that Yellen said an additional U.S. response to the export controls would be coming. 

An official from the Chinese finance ministry expressed hope that economic relations would be improved between the two countries following Yellen’s meetings with Chinese officials, according to the Times. They said neither China nor the U.S. would benefit from “decoupling” and disrupting supply chains. 

The Times reported that Yellen expressed her issues with Chinese policy while meeting with top Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang. 

She also has met with former Vice Premier Liu He and outgoing governor of the People’s Bank of China Yi Gang, with a Treasury Department official telling the outlet that it was for informal talks on the economic outlook.

Former Vice Minister of Commerce Wei Jianguo told China Daily, a Chinese government-run outlet, Wednesday that Beijing is prepared to place additional trade restrictions on metals used in semiconductors if the United States hits China with tougher technology restrictions. 

"This is just the beginning of China's countermeasures, and China's tool box has many more types of measures available," Wei said. "If the high-tech restrictions on China become tougher in the future, China's countermeasures will also escalate."

The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced Monday that starting Aug. 1, it will establish limits on the exportation of two rare metals — germanium and gallium — needed for producing semiconductors and electric vehicles. The agency said the exports will only be permitted if the exporters receive licenses from the ministry. 

An editorial in China Daily after the announcement slammed the Netherlands for the export controls it has placed on semiconductor components. China is the leader in the world production of both materials. 

Wei said Wednesday that the decision to place export limits came after significant consideration and will inflict pain on other countries. 

Reuters reported that analysts have said the action is a step in the ongoing battle over technology between the U.S. and China, and it raised worries that additional restrictions could be placed on rare earth exports. 

Yellen plans to visit Beijing on Thursday as U.S. officials try to reduce tensions that have been high with China for months.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with top Chinese officials in Beijing last month to hold diplomatic discussions.