China has proposed banning or restricting exports of 40 technologies that span artificial intelligence, chips and solar power, a move that comes as its technology race with the United States intensifies. The proposal is a draft, not a final rule, and it remains open to public comment.
Key Highlights
- China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology published the draft on Friday, October 16.
- It lists 23 AI technologies, 12 solar technologies and five biomedicine technologies, according to The Associated Press.
- AI models with 2 trillion or more parameters, or certain “world-leading capabilities,” could face export limits.
- Public consultation runs through November 15, so the final scope could change.
What China Proposed
The two ministries jointly published a draft update to China’s catalog of technologies that are banned or restricted from export, the AP reported. A commerce ministry spokesperson called the move “necessary” and cited national security among the reasons. The ministry said the aims include preventing misuse and abuse of AI and keeping it under human control.
Beyond the 23 AI technologies, the AP said the list includes 12 solar power technologies, among them those used to make polysilicon, a core raw material for solar panels. It also lists five biomedicine technologies, including cell and gene therapy.
What It Means for AI and Chips
Under the proposal, exports of core technologies for AI large models trained on sensitive national data would be prohibited. So would AI agents designed for highly sensitive uses such as national defense and critical information infrastructure, the AP reported.
Exports of models with 2 trillion or more parameters, or certain world-leading capabilities, could be restricted. Parameter count is a key measure of a model’s learning capacity. According to the AP, Chinese models including Moonshot’s Kimi K3 and Alibaba’s Qwen 3.8-Max exceed that count, but the proposal did not name specific models.
Several chip design technologies, including some for AI processors and memory chips, are also on the proposed list, the AP said.
What the Draft Does Not Cover
International Business Times, citing Reuters, reported that access to AI services through application programming interfaces, websites, mobile apps and software platforms would be excluded from the proposed restrictions. Technologies already available through open-source releases or academic publications would also be exempt, according to that report.
That distinction matters for Chinese AI companies selling services abroad. The draft text itself was not available for review for this report, so these details rest on the news coverage cited here.
Why Beijing Is Acting Now
The AP noted that U.S.-led restrictions have curbed some advanced technology exports to China in recent years, blocking access to the most advanced AI chips and the machines that make them.
Analysts see the Chinese move as a response. Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at research firm Omdia, said it can be seen as a reaction to Western countries imposing sovereignty requirements on AI, robotics and telecommunications. Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis, said the world is becoming more fragmented in trade, investment and access to technology. These are analysts’ interpretations, not statements from Beijing.
The proposal also arrived as China and the United States reported progress in talks on AI safety and governance and on a mechanism to notify each other of AI incidents that could threaten national security, the AP said.
What Remains Uncertain
The measures are not yet in force. The International Business Times reported that public feedback is open through November 15, and the final scope and details could change before anything takes effect. Practical impact will depend on licensing requirements, exemptions and how regulators separate restricted technology transfers from ordinary services and research cooperation.
It is also unclear how foreign companies, universities and research partners would be affected, since the draft’s full text was not available for this report.
What to Watch Next
- Whether China revises the list after the November 15 consultation closes.
- How licensing rules treat joint research and overseas partnerships.
- Any response from Washington or from U.S. technology companies.
Sources: The Associated Press (via Fortune and U.S. News), International Business Times China, which cites Reuters. This article will be updated as more information is confirmed.