China Proposes Export Controls on 40 Technologies

China’s commerce and science ministries have proposed adding 40 technologies to the country’s export-control lists, including 23 related to artificial intelligence, as a separate interim registration requirement for covered transfers took effect October 16. The draft also includes 12 solar technologies and five biomedicine technologies. It remains a proposal, and the public comment period runs through November 15, 2026. The ministries have not finalized the catalogue. The proposed AI provisions cover areas including large models, intelligent agents, computing clusters and chip-design technologies. They would restrict or prohibit exports of certain AI technologies, including model weights and source code, when systems meet specified criteria. Those include having at least 2 trillion parameters or ranking among the world’s top 10, according to descriptions of the draft. The proposal does not name specific models. The interim registration requirement is already in effect and is distinct from the draft catalogue changes. It applies to transfers of listed technologies to overseas entities, including technology ownership transfers and licensing agreements. It also covers export...