China Proposes Adding AI and Photovoltaics to Technology Export Controls
China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology released a draft revision to the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export, proposing the addition of 40 key technologies spanning artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and photovoltaics for public comment. This policy update aims to safeguard national security and prevent technology abuse while establishing clear, precise regulatory boundaries for global tech supply chains and international R&D collaboration. The draft proposes 14 prohibited and 26 restricted technologies, covering areas like AI-driven malicious code generation, cell and gene therapies, and perovskite solar cell production, while offering convenience measures such as automatic licensing for open-source AI and joint research.
## BACKGROUND
The Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export is a regulatory framework managed under China's Foreign Trade Law to periodically adjust technology trade controls in response to domestic industry developments and national security requirements. Perovskite and tandem solar cells represent next-generation photovoltaic technologies that utilize stacked layers of materials to absorb different light spectrums, breaking traditional efficiency limits but requiring sophisticated manufacturing processes.