China proposes export controls on 40 technologies, 23 of them in AI, and makes exporters register before shipping any of them abroad
The commerce and science ministries' draft covers large models, agents and computing clusters, exempts open-source and published technology, and is open for comment until 15 November.
Why it matters: China's own AI models, agents and computing clusters would join the list of technologies it can bar or license for export, mirroring the US approach from the other side. Registration starts now, before the rules are final, so any company licensing Chinese AI technology abroad is affected at once.
China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology published a joint announcement on 16 October that opens a revision of the country's Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export. The draft would add 40 technologies: 23 in artificial intelligence, 5 in biomedicine and 12 in solar power. For the solar technologies, the notice says the key and core equipment that carries them is also in scope. It says technology already public through open-source release or published papers is not covered.
The draft is not final, but one part applies straight away. From the date of the notice until the revised catalogue takes effect, exporters must register with the commerce ministry before exporting any listed technology, whether by transferring it, licensing it for use abroad or passing control of its owner to a foreign entity. Public comments are open until 15 November.
A ministry spokesperson, quoted by the state news agency Xinhua, said 14 of the items would be banned from export and 26 restricted, that the AI scope is narrow, and that most AI technology could still be exported freely once the rules take effect. Reuters reported that the AI items cover AI models, intelligent agents and computing clusters, and that the ministry said in a statement that the move was routine and does not target any specific country, region or entity.
The draft lands on the same day that Taiwan's economy minister set out plans to make shipping restricted AI hardware to China a crime. The annex that lists the 23 AI items one by one was not opened for this story.
- Confirmed The joint draft would add 40 technologies to the export catalogue: 23 in AI, 5 in biomedicine and 12 in solar; open-source and published technology is excluded, and comments run until 15 November. Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology, Announcement No. 48 of 2026
- Confirmed Until the revised catalogue takes effect, exporters must register before exporting any listed technology. Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology, Announcement No. 48 of 2026
- Claimed A commerce ministry spokesperson, quoted by Xinhua, said 14 items would be banned from export and 26 restricted, and that most AI technology could still be exported freely. Xinhua
- Reported Reuters reports that the AI items are AI models, intelligent agents and computing clusters, and that the ministry says the revision does not target any specific country, region or entity. Reuters, via The Standard
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