China's Commerce Ministry has added 23 AI technologies to its export‑control list, effective Friday, tightening limits on overseas transfers of AI models and chip designs.
The list covers large language models, agents, chip designs and computing clusters, and imposes limits on model weights and source code for products that exceed performance thresholds such as models with at least 2 trillion parameters or those ranking in the world’s top‑10 for performance, safety or usage.
A spokesperson for the ministry said the curbs are aimed at ensuring “safety and controllability,” citing the risk of misuse against critical infrastructure and core government systems.
China has updated its export‑control catalogue before, adding algorithms in 2020 after the Trump administration threatened to ban TikTok. Ryan Etzcorn, senior director at Ankura China Advisors, warned that targeting AI, solar and biotech signals Beijing’s intent to stay ahead even as it seeks steadier relations with the West.
The restrictions will hit high‑parameter models such as Kimi K3 and Alibaba’s Qwen3.8‑Max, potentially stalling their overseas deployment and prompting foreign developers to seek alternative platforms.
Liu Wei, founder of Z.AI Co., said the new rules could delay the company’s plans to launch its models on Amazon Web Services, a move that could ripple across the global AI market.
Companies must register any ongoing transactions, including intellectual‑property transfers and overseas licensing, by June 30 to avoid penalties, and the ministry will issue detailed licensing guidelines next month.
The new restrictions signal Beijing’s intent to tighten control over key tech sectors, a move that may prompt other nations to reassess their own export‑control frameworks.