The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology propose including 23 items of AI technology in the export control catalog; public consultation is ongoing

AT A GLANCE

The report says China proposes controlling the export of some large-model technologies, but API and some open-source activities may continue.

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China’s Ministry of Commerce Plans to Control Exports of Large-Model Technology: China AI Can Still Open-Source, Overseas API Also Not Restricted

Beating AI Breaking News: The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology plan to include 23 items of AI technology in export controls, covering large models, agents, computing clusters, and more.

A large model’s core technology may be restricted if it meets any one of three conditions: 1. Training compute reaches (10^{26}) floating-point operations 2. The number of parameters reaches 2000000000000

3. Ranked in the top 10 in major public evaluations worldwide

The scope of control includes model weights, underlying source code, architecture design, and training optimization technologies.

However, this does not mean that Chinese large models will be unable to be open-sourced in the future. Open-source technologies that have already entered the public domain are not subject to the new rules, and newly open-sourced restricted technologies in the future may also use an expedited licensing process.

The Ministry of Commerce stated that it can basically achieve “report and approval immediately.” Overseas users who continue to use Chinese models through API, webpages, or apps are likewise not covered by these large-model technology export controls.

What is actually restricted is the transfer of core technologies abroad, such as handing model weights to overseas enterprises or carrying out localized deployment overseas.

Some technologies involving China’s core data, national defense, and other sensitive areas are proposed to be prohibited from export.

The new catalog is currently soliciting public comments, with a deadline of November 15, but the prior registration requirement for exporting the relevant technologies took effect on October 16.

Original link https://m.theblockbeats.info/flash/372286

Key points

The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology propose including 23 items of AI technology in export controls, covering large models, Agents, and computing clusters.
The thresholds for large-model restrictions listed in the report include training compute reaching 10^26 floating-point operations, a parameter count reaching 2000000000000 or ranking among the top 10 in major global public evaluations; meeting any one condition is sufficient.
The proposed control scope includes model weights, underlying source code, architectural design, and training optimization technologies.
The report states that open-source technologies already in the public domain are not subject to the new rules, while newly open-sourced restricted technologies in the future may use an expedited licensing procedure.
The report states that overseas users using Chinese models through API, web pages, or apps are outside the scope of these large-model technology export controls.
The report characterizes providing model weights to overseas enterprises or conducting localized deployment overseas as potentially restricted transfers of core technologies abroad.
Some technologies involving core data, national defense, and other sensitive areas are proposed to be prohibited from export.
The report states that the new catalog remains under public consultation, with a deadline of November 15; the pre-export registration requirement for related technologies took effect on October 16.

AI-assisted interpretation

The following is analysis, separate from reported facts. Verify important claims independently.

This is an export-control arrangement that has not yet been finalized. The focus is not to prohibit all open-sourcing or overseas use of Chinese models, but to restrict the transfer abroad of some models' core technologies, weights, and source code;API, web pages, or app access is described in the report as unaffected by these controls.

Why it matters to readers

If the proposed arrangements take effect, businesses involving model weights, source-code licensing, or localized deployment overseas may face additional registration or licensing requirements; businesses using only API may be affected differently.

It can be understood as follows: access to a model through an interface may continue, but providing the model's core technologies to overseas enterprises may require registration or a license, and may even be prohibited.

Risks and unknowns

The evidence does not include an original announcement from the Ministry of Commerce or the Ministry of Science and Technology; the report's content remains to be verified against official documents.
The new catalog remains under public consultation; the final control scope, thresholds, and implementation details have not been determined.
The specific applicable entities, licensing turnaround times, and “report and receive approval immediately” rules for the pre-export registration requirement remain unclear.
The evidence alone cannot determine whether specific enterprises or specific technologies will be materially affected.

The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology propose including 23 items of AI technology in the export control catalog; public consultation is ongoing

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