China is expanding export controls to include new types of drones, tunnel boring machines, and dredger components such as mud pumps and cutterheads. The measures, announced by the Ministry of Commerce on Monday, will take effect on Nov 18. The items have been classified as having an obvious military-civil dual-use nature, and China has notified countries with which it maintains an export control dialogue.
The move is part of a broader trend of China tightening export controls as it leverages its position in global supply chains. Beijing has previously restricted rare earth sales and recently proposed adding certain artificial intelligence technologies to its control list. Tunnel boring machines can be used to build underground military infrastructure, and China accounts for roughly 70% of the global digger market.
Leading producers include China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co Ltd, whose shield products operate in 36 countries including Denmark and France, competing with Germany’s Herrenknecht AG. Dredgers, useful for constructing naval facilities, are also dominated by Chinese manufacturers, with Netherlands-based Royal IHC NA among international rivals.
In a separate notice, the ministry said it will strengthen scrutiny of exports to identify dual-use items, requiring receipts and transport documents. The procedure applies immediately to cross-border e-commerce, passenger luggage, mail, and express shipments.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing