China proposes export controls on its advanced AI models and chip designs

China’s commerce and science ministries proposed adding 23 AI technologies, including large models, agents, chip designs, and computing clusters, to the country’s export control list. Open-source tech is exempt and overseas users can still access models through apps. A temporary export registration rule took effect on 16 October.

China plans to limit exports of 23 AI technologies, from large language models and AI agents to chip designs. Its commerce and science ministries put out the draft proposal on Friday.

The plan covers 40 items in total. Besides AI, it lists 12 solar items and five in biomedicine, such as gene therapy. The public can comment until 15 November.

For large models, the curbs would cover weights, source code, and other core parts. They would apply to models with at least 2 trillion parameters, or that rank in the world’s top 10 on tests such as performance and safety, Bloomberg reported.

Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 and Alibaba’s Qwen3.8-Max are among the models above that size, according to Bloomberg and the Associated Press. The draft itself does not name any model.

The draft would also limit design know-how for AI chips made at 14 nanometres or below, or built by stacking chips in 2.5D or 3D. Some memory chip designs are on the list too.

However, open-source code and published research would be exempt. Chinese firms could also keep serving users abroad through apps, websites, and APIs, the ministry said.

Running a covered model on servers abroad would count as an export. Still, firms that run it on their own cloud servers abroad could get a licence automatically.

The rules aim to “ prevent misuse and abuse ” and “ ensure that AI remains under human control, ” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

The ministry added that the plan does not target any country or firm. Meanwhile, firms must now register before they export any of the listed items, under a temporary rule that took effect on Friday. It also covers deals that are not yet complete.

Earlier this year, Beijing was reported to be weighing limits on overseas access to its top models. In July, the Financial Times reported that it was considering export controls on AI models and chips.

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