China Proposes Export Controls on AI Technologies

China is considering new export controls on artificial-intelligence technologies in a bid to safeguard the strategically critical industry amid intensifying competition.

The Ministry of Commerce on Friday issued a draft plan to add 40 technologies in the AI, biomedicine and photovoltaics sectors to a list of technologies prohibited or restricted from export. The ministry is seeking public comment on the proposed restrictions until Nov. 15.

The proposed changes cover 23 AI-related technologies such as large language models, AI agents, chip design and computing clusters. Technologies that have entered the public domain through published papers or open-source releases are excluded from controls, according to the draft proposal.

China has imposed a temporary registration requirement for exports of the technologies covered by the proposed plan until a formal implementation of the changes. The registration, which started Friday, applies to transfers of technology ownership, overseas licensing as well as moving ownership to a foreign entity. Exports that have began but aren’t completed yet also fall within the scope of registration.

A commerce ministry spokesperson said Friday in a statement that the proposed measures aim to ensure that AI technology is safe and controllable.

In response to a question on how the proposed export controls would affect Chinese AI companies seeking to expand internationally, the ministry spokesperson said that would hinge on “whether it involves the transfer of restricted technologies from within China to locations outside its borders.”

The Wall Street Journal reported in July that Chinese officials have held discussions with domestic AI labs that produce the country’s most powerful models about how to protect their proprietary technology. Beijing is concerned that sharing some of this technology could help adversaries or other malicious actors and ultimately get weaponized against China.

In April, China blocked Meta Platforms’ $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus on national security grounds.