China on Friday unveiled a broad draft plan to impose export controls on more than 40 advanced technologies, including solar manufacturing processes, AI models and certain biotechnology platforms.
The proposal includes complete export bans or restrictions on several technologies used in solar cell production. Although most solar products remain unaffected, controls on next-generation manufacturing technologies could complicate efforts by other countries to reduce reliance on China and develop domestic capabilities across the solar supply chain.
China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology declared the draft plan, covering key technologies across artificial intelligence, biomedicine and photovoltaics.
The proposal identifies 14 technologies for a complete export ban, including perovskite and tandem solar-cell module manufacturing, AI technologies capable of generating or modifying malicious code, and certain cell and gene therapy platforms. Another 26 technologies would face export restrictions, including polysilicon engineering processes used in solar cell production lines with annual capacities of at least 30,000 tons.
For photovoltaics, China plans to add 12 technologies covering polysilicon production, wafer manufacturing and solar-cell manufacturing to its export control list. The ministry cited national security concerns, noting that these technologies are increasingly used in aerospace, defense, unmanned systems and other sensitive sectors. It emphasized that the measures would target only selected technologies, while other photovoltaic technologies would remain freely exportable.
“Major economies around the world have implemented varying degrees of export controls in these areas. Drawing on international practice, China is implementing necessary controls in accordance with the law to prevent risks arising from loss of control over technologies or inappropriate proliferation while also safeguarding normal international technological cooperation,” the statement said.
Regarding AI, the ministry said most technologies would continue to be exported without restrictions. However, the draft proposes adding 23 key AI technologies, covering foundation models, intelligent agents, computing clusters and information-processing technologies.
China’s Ministry of Commerce further noted that technologies capable of autonomously generating or modifying malicious code could be used to attack critical infrastructure, defense systems and government networks or bypass security safeguards. Their acquisition by malicious actors could pose risks to national and human security. The proposed controls aim to prevent misuse, strengthen security protections and ensure human oversight of AI.
The ministry also reaffirmed China’s commitment to an open-source AI ecosystem. Open-source AI projects and overseas chip fabrication activities may qualify for facilitation measures, while technologies already publicly available through open-source releases or academic publications would generally be exempt from export controls.
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