Beijing tightens controls on artificial intelligence exports
China is planning new export controls for critical technologies, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology, citing national security and geopolitical competition.
The Beijing administration has prepared new proposals to include 23 artificial intelligence technologies, encompassing AI models and computing clusters, on its export control list.
Artificial Intelligence and Critical Technologies
The new regulatory proposals announced by China's commerce ministry form part of a broad revision covering a total of 40 technologies in the fields of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and solar energy.
The list includes 23 different artificial intelligence technologies deemed critical for national security, such as models, agents, and computing clusters.
International Access and Exceptions
While the proposed measures cover the overseas distribution of artificial intelligence models containing restricted technology, they exclude access provided via APIs, websites, applications, and cloud platforms.
This exemption allows Chinese AI developers such as Alibaba and DeepSeek to continue growing internationally while giving Beijing tighter control over sensitive technologies.
Biotechnology and Intellectual Property
As part of the comprehensive revision of the technology export catalog, the transfer of intellectual property rights for certain new cell and gene therapies and small interfering RNA technologies is prohibited.