China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) have published a draft, not a final rule, that would add 23 AI technologies covering large models, agents and computing clusters to China's catalogue of export-restricted technologies. The notice, dated 16 October 2026, excludes technology that has already entered the public domain through open-source release or academic papers, which matters to anyone building on Chinese open-weight models. The draft was flagged on X by @kimmonismus, an outside account.

One part applies immediately: from the date of publication until the revised catalogue takes effect, exporters must register listed technology with MOFCOM before exporting it.

What the notice says

The draft covers 40 technologies in total: 23 in AI, 5 in biomedicine and 12 in solar. Registration applies to transferring technology ownership abroad, licensing technology for overseas use, and changing the owner or controller of domestic technology to an overseas entity. Exports already under way but not completed are included.

The ministries invite public comments from 16 October to 15 November 2026 on the technology scope, indicators, control policy and facilitation measures. The list of technologies sits in an attachment to the notice, and final wording and the effective date are not yet set.

What Reuters adds on APIs and apps

Reuters, citing the commerce ministry, reports that the proposals cover overseas deployment of AI models containing restricted technology but exclude access through APIs, websites, apps and software-as-a-service platforms. Reuters says that distinction could let developers such as DeepSeek and Alibaba keep expanding internationally while giving Beijing more oversight of sensitive AI technology transfers. It describes the move as part of China's effort to limit transfers of tools it views as vital to national security and competition with Washington.

Reuters article text on China's proposed export controls, with the lead paragraph highlighted and the API, website and app exclusion described
Reuters article text on China's proposed export controls, with the lead paragraph highlighted and the API, website and app exclusion described

Image credit: @kimmonismus on X

Sources