China Imposes Export Restrictions on Drones and Heavy Machinery

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on October 19 that it is expanding drone export controls and restricting sales of certain heavy machinery to “sensitive countries,” effective November 18. The restricted drones include models with ranges exceeding 300 kilometers and beyond visual range (BVR) capabilities, along with their engines, operating systems, and manufacturing technology. Controls also cover key components of certain tunnel-boring machines, walking excavators, high-altitude concrete sprayers, and dredgers.