China proposes new export controls on solar manufacturing, AI and biotech

China moves to restrict exports of solar, AI and biotech tech

China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology have issued a draft plan to prohibit or restrict the export of 40 key technologies across artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and photovoltaic manufacturing.

The proposal, published under Announcement No. 48, targets critical processes in next-generation solar energy and advanced AI tools. Beijing cited national security and the prevention of technological proliferation in sensitive sectors such as defence and critical infrastructure as the primary reasons for the controls.

What technology is being restricted?

The plan divides the 40 targeted technologies into two regulatory categories: 14 facing a complete export ban, and 26 subject to strict export licensing restrictions.

Under the proposed rules, 12 distinct photovoltaic technologies spanning polysilicon production, wafer production, and solar cell manufacturing will face oversight. Chinese officials noted that photovoltaic systems are increasingly deployed in aerospace, defence, and unmanned platforms, elevating their strategic importance.

In AI, 23 key technologies are listed. The Chinese commerce ministry said tools capable of generating or mutating malicious code pose direct risks to critical infrastructure and core government networks if acquired by hostile actors.

How the rules affect international trade and India

Despite the sweeping list, Chinese officials stated that standard solar products and public domain AI technologies will remain unaffected. Most commercial solar exports will continue freely, while open-source AI projects and overseas chip fabrication activities will receive export facilitation measures.

The move comes as countries, including India, expand domestic manufacturing capacity to secure critical supply chains. India's substantial push to scale up domestic solar cell and module production aims to strengthen national energy security and build robust domestic industrial capacity. While standard solar imports into India continue without hindrance, restrictions on next-generation manufacturing technology reinforce the strategic importance of India's ongoing efforts to achieve complete end-to-end manufacturing self-reliance.

The Chinese commerce ministry stated that the restrictions align with international practices adopted by other major economies and are designed to safeguard national interests while maintaining normal technical cooperation.