China Drafts Export Controls on 40 AI Technologies

October 29, 2026 - 03:04

China has released a draft list of export controls covering 40 artificial intelligence technologies, according to information confirmed so far. The proposal sets out 14 outright bans and 26 licensing requirements, drawing attention from researchers, companies, and trade analysts who follow cross-border technology flows.

The scope is broad. Among the technologies named in the draft are AI models with 2 trillion parameters or more, a threshold that places the largest frontier systems squarely inside the control regime. The draft separates prohibited exports from those that would require a license, creating two distinct tracks for different categories of technology.

The 14 banned items represent technologies deemed too sensitive for any export, while the 26 licensed items could still move abroad but only with government approval. This structure mirrors earlier Chinese export control frameworks but applies them specifically to AI for the first time at this scale.

The draft status matters. These measures are not yet in force, and the final list could change after public comment and review. What is confirmed is the count of 40 technologies, the split between bans and licenses, and the inclusion of 2-trillion-parameter models. Details on specific technologies beyond that threshold remain limited in the confirmed information.

The proposal signals that China intends to treat advanced AI as a strategic asset subject to the same kind of oversight already applied to other sensitive exports. How companies and research institutions adapt will depend on the final rules and their enforcement.