China Proposes New Export Controls on AI, Biotech and Solar Technologies
The draft measures would add scrutiny to some overseas transfers while excluding access to AI services through apps, websites and software platforms.
China has proposed new export controls covering 40 advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and solar power, as Beijing seeks to strengthen oversight of strategically important intellectual property amid intensifying global technology competition.
The proposals, announced on October 16 by China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology, include controls on 23 artificial intelligence-related technologies. According to Reuters, the draft measures cover technologies associated with AI models, AI agents and computing clusters, as well as selected biotechnology and photovoltaic technologies.
The proposal is part of a broader revision of China's technology export catalogue. The government has invited public feedback, with the consultation period scheduled to run through November 15. The final scope and implementation details could therefore change before the measures take effect.
The draft reflects the growing strategic importance of advanced technologies in international trade. Governments increasingly view expertise in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology and clean energy not only as commercial assets but also as matters connected to national security, critical infrastructure and long-term industrial competitiveness.
Under the proposed framework, some overseas transfers involving restricted AI technologies would face additional scrutiny. The distinction between transferring underlying technology and providing access to AI products is particularly significant for Chinese companies seeking international customers.
Reuters reported that access through application programming interfaces, websites, mobile applications and software-as-a-service platforms would be excluded from the proposed restrictions. That distinction could allow developers to continue providing AI services internationally without automatically transferring controlled technology or intellectual property to overseas users.
The approach may be important for Chinese AI companies such as DeepSeek and Alibaba, whose international expansion has depended partly on offering competitive models and services at relatively low prices. However, the extent to which individual products or commercial arrangements would be affected would depend on the final rules and whether a transaction involved technology covered by the controls.
Chinese authorities have cited the potential misuse of advanced AI as one reason for the proposed measures. Systems capable of autonomously generating or modifying malicious software could create risks for critical infrastructure and national security. At the same time, the proposed framework would exempt technologies already available through open-source releases or academic publications, according to Reuters.
The draft also covers biotechnology. Proposed restrictions include transfers of intellectual property ownership involving certain cell and gene therapies and small interfering RNA technologies. These fields have attracted international investment because of their potential applications in medicine, drug development and advanced healthcare.
Solar technology is another part of the review. China occupies a major position in global clean-energy manufacturing, making the treatment of technology transfers in the photovoltaic supply chain relevant to international manufacturers and governments pursuing energy-transition goals.
The proposals arrive against a background of technology restrictions imposed by multiple countries. The United States has limited China's access to certain advanced semiconductors and related technologies, while Beijing has introduced or considered controls affecting strategically important materials and industrial capabilities.
The new Chinese proposals should not be interpreted as a blanket ban on all international AI business. Their practical impact will depend on the final catalogue, licensing requirements, exemptions and how regulators distinguish restricted technology transfers from ordinary services and research cooperation.
For foreign companies working with Chinese technology providers, the consultation period creates an opportunity to assess licensing arrangements, intellectual-property ownership and cross-border research partnerships. Businesses involved in AI, biotechnology and solar manufacturing will need to monitor the final rules before making assumptions about which activities require approval.
The central question is how China will balance protection of sensitive technology with its companies' interest in expanding overseas. The outcome could influence not only Chinese exporters but also global research collaboration, technology supply chains and the future division of the international AI market.