Beijing secures supremacy: China wants to restrict exports of important AI and solar technologies

China is the world leader in many future technologies - and apparently wants to secure its lead. Beijing is planning far-reaching export restrictions on AI, solar and biotechnology. This could also have extensive consequences for US companies.

China wants to control more closely what technical knowledge goes abroad. The Ministry of Trade and Science presented a draft for 40 key technologies from the areas of artificial intelligence, photovoltaics and biomedicine. Exports are to be banned for 14 of them, and permits are to be required for the remaining 26.

The new bans and approval requirements have not yet been decided. Comments can be submitted until November 15th. Since the announcement was published on Friday, companies have had to register affected technology transfers. These include, for example, the sale of property rights and the granting of licenses abroad.

The focus is on 23 AI technologies. This includes procedures for large AI models and so-called AI agents that carry out tasks largely independently. According to the ministry, access to AI services via apps and websites should remain exempt from the controls. This also includes AI technologies that are already publicly available. Further plans provide for export controls for twelve key technologies for the production of solar systems as well as for cell and gene therapy processes.

Ministry justifies the step with security risks

According to the proposal, the export of technologies for the production of certain thin wafers as well as perovskite and tandem solar cells would be completely banned. Perovskite is a technology that promises higher levels of efficiency. Tandem cells combine different layers to utilize a wider spectrum of sunlight.

The technology for producing polysilicon in large fluidized bed reactors is also said to be affected. This process is considered to be more cost-effective and energy-efficient than the prevailing Siemens process. The export of other advanced solar cell technologies should also be restricted, but not banned.

The Ministry of Commerce justifies the step with security risks. AI can be used to attack important infrastructure. Solar technology is also used in space travel and defense. According to analysts, China wants to use the measures to secure its dominance in the solar market, while countries such as the USA and India are trying to build up their own production. Such a move could jeopardize plans by US companies like Tesla to expand production in the United States. The Commerce Department's statement said the measures were not aimed at specific countries or companies.

China had already restricted certain processes for the production of battery materials and lithium extraction in 2025. There were also approval requirements for certain rare earths and products made from them. The new initiative falls into the technology competition with the USA, which in turn controls the export of powerful AI chips to China.