China Adds 40 Technologies to Export Control Draft: AI, Chips, Photovoltaics and Biomedicine

On October 16, 2026, China announced a draft revision of the list of technologies prohibited or restricted from export. Prepared jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the updated version includes 40 new items covering three key areas: artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and photovoltaic (solar) energy systems. According to the department, the draft amendments are currently in the public consultation stage, meaning they have not yet entered into force definitively.

Revision Structure: 14 Prohibitions and 26 Restrictions

In the revised draft, 14 technologies have been added to the list of completely prohibited exports, and 26 to the list of technologies requiring an export license for shipment. By sector, the distribution is as follows: 23 items are related to artificial intelligence, 12 to photovoltaics, and 5 to biomedical applications. Thus, the regulator's main focus is precisely on AI technologies, which account for more than half of all new items.

Artificial Intelligence, Chips and Voiceprints

The purpose of the amendments, as stated in the document, is to prevent the leakage of high-tech and critical technologies. In particular, it is proposed to ban the export of core technologies for large AI models trained on confidential data critical to the country, as well as AI agents serving critical national information infrastructure, defense, and major government operations. The list of export restrictions also includes 2.5D and 3D AI chip design technologies, as well as 3D flash memory technologies. Separately, AI-based information processing technologies and voiceprint recognition technologies have been included in the restricted access list.

Photovoltaics and Biomedicine

In the photovoltaic sector, 12 items have been added to the list of prohibited or restricted technologies, including major manufacturing methods and equipment used to produce polysilicon, silicon wafers, and solar cells. In the biomedical field, the list was replenished with five technologies related to cell and gene engineering, as well as methods for combating pathogenic microorganisms. For comparison: the export control list itself was first published in 2001 and has since been revised in 2008, 2020, 2023, and 2025.

Exceptions and Legal Logic of Regulation

The proposed regulation contains an important clarification: technologies that have become publicly available through forms such as open source, scientific publication, or other methods will not be subject to regulation. This means that control applies to closed, commercially or strategically significant technologies, rather than open scientific results. At the same time, the basic distinction between the two lists remains: technologies included in the prohibited list are not subject to export at all, whereas technologies from the restricted list require obtaining an export license.

Beijing's Position and Current Stage of Discussion

A ministry spokesperson stated that in recent years, the application of AI, biomedicine, and photovoltaic technologies in sensitive areas has expanded, and major world economies are introducing export controls to varying degrees. Drawing on advanced international experience, China, according to the department, is carrying out necessary management in accordance with the law, which is said to help prevent the risk of uncontrolled technology proliferation, protect normal international exchange and cooperation, and ensure security and benefit for humanity. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce emphasized that the draft amendments are currently in the public consultation stage, so their final wording and entry-into-force dates may be adjusted following the collection of comments.