China Sets Export Controls on Tunnel-Boring Machines

China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced export controls on tunnel-boring machines and related equipment, with the measures scheduled to take effect November 18, 2026. The rules cover machinery with civilian and military applications and could affect Indian infrastructure projects that rely on imported equipment, though their specific impact is not yet established. The ministry said the controls are intended to safeguard national security and interests and meet China’s international obligations, including those related to nonproliferation. The announcement also adjusts export controls on certain dredging equipment and components. The measures were issued under China’s export-control framework for dual-use goods. Requirements for tunnel-boring equipment vary by destination and product. A detailed account of the rules says exporters shipping covered tunneling products to destinations classified as sensitive will need a licence; exporters shipping to other destinations must register shipment information to obtain an export certificate. The notice does not identify which destinations will be treated as sensitive. Covered dredging equipment, by contrast, requires a licence for...