China proposes export controls on 40 technologies including AI, solar and biotech

On October 16, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology released a draft plan proposing export bans on 14 technologies and restrictions on 26 others across AI, solar power, and biotechnology. The policy targets advanced AI models exceeding 2 trillion parameters, 14-nanometer chip designs, tandem solar modules, and cell therapies while exempting open-source systems to maintain national security and control over sensitive innovations.

Overview of proposed export controls

• ▪China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology on October 16, 2026 jointly proposed export bans on 14 technologies and restrictions on 26 technologies across AI, solar power, and biotechnology.
• ▪China's Ministry of Commerce stated on October 16, 2026 that the proposed tech export controls aim to prevent risks from technology proliferation while maintaining safeguards for national security and human control.
• ▪China's government opened the draft export control proposal for public comments through November 15, 2026.
• ▪China implemented a temporary pre-export registration requirement on October 16, 2026 covering ongoing technology transfers, intellectual property licensing, and changes placing Chinese tech owners under foreign control.

Proposed controls on artificial intelligence

• ▪China's draft proposal restricts exports of AI models exceeding 2 trillion parameters—such as Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 and Alibaba's Qwen 3.8-Max—or models ranking in the top 10 globally.
• ▪China's proposal prohibits exports of AI model core technologies trained on sensitive national data and AI agents designed for national defense or critical information infrastructure.
• ▪The October 16, 2026 draft export proposal includes 23 artificial intelligence technologies covering large models, intelligent agents, chip designs, and computing clusters.
• ▪China's export proposal targets AI chip designs utilizing 14-nanometer or advanced packaging techniques, alongside designs for advanced memory chips.

Exemptions for open-source artificial intelligence

• ▪Technologies already in the public domain, including open-source AI releases and academic publications, remain exempt from China's proposed export controls.
• ▪China's government plans to provide streamlined procedures, including automatic licensing, for export transactions involving open-source artificial intelligence technologies.

Proposed controls on solar technologies

• ▪China's October 16, 2026 proposal includes 12 solar technologies, proposing export bans on perovskite and tandem solar module manufacturing and restrictions on high-capacity polysilicon engineering lines.
• ▪China's Ministry of Commerce stated on October 16, 2026 that solar export restrictions are necessary because solar technologies are increasingly utilized in defense, aerospace, and unmanned systems.

Impact on Indian solar manufacturing

• ▪Santosh Pai of the Institute of Chinese Studies stated that China's Announcement No. 48 could delay production timelines for Indian solar manufacturers relying on Chinese technology licensing or investments.
• ▪In March 2026, India amended restrictions on Chinese investment imposed in 2020, listing polysilicon and ingot-wafer solar manufacturing segments as priority sectors for fast-track approvals.

Proposed controls on biomedical technologies

• ▪The draft catalog targets 5 biomedical technologies, proposing export bans or restrictions on cell and gene therapy platforms and small nucleic acid drugs.
• ▪China's Ministry of Commerce highlighted on October 16, 2026 that biopharmaceutical technologies face increasing export regulation due to their expanding applications in sensitive fields.

Chinese technology export regulations

• ▪On July 1, 2026, China implemented rules tightening outbound transfers of technology and data, after previously blocking Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Chinese AI startup Manus on national security grounds.
• ▪In 2020, Beijing added algorithms to its export control catalog after the first Trump administration threatened to ban TikTok unless the application sold its U.S. assets.

Global technology export restrictions

• ▪Western nations including the U.S., Japan, and European countries maintain export controls on advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment directed toward China.
• ▪In retaliation for Western technology restrictions, China enforces export controls on critical minerals.