Two departments: Export controls imposed on items including tunnel boring machines, effective November 18

On October 19, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs published a decision to impose export controls on items including tunnel boring machines. The announcement stated that, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and in order to safeguard national security and interests, with the approval of the State Council, it has been decided to impose export controls on items such as earth pressure balance shield machines, slurry pressure balance shield machines, and other types of shield machines. This announcement shall officially take effect on November 18, 2026. The Dual-Use Items Export Control List of the People's Republic of China shall be updated accordingly. The original text is as follows: Announcement No. 50 of 2026 of the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs: Announcement of the Decision to Impose Export Controls on Items Including Tunnel Boring Machines In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and in order to safeguard national security and interests, with the approval of the State Council, it has been decided to impose export controls on the following items: I. Items Related to Tunneling Machines (1) 2B906. Full-face tunnel boring machines. a. Earth pressure balance shield machines, slurry pressure balance shield machines, and other types of shield machines (reference customs commodity numbers: 8430313010); b. Open-type, single-shield, double-shield rock tunnel boring machines, and other types of rock tunnel boring machines (reference customs commodity numbers: 8430313010). (2) 2A906. Parts and components specially designed for the items controlled under 2B906: a. Cutterheads (reference customs commodity number: 8431499910); b. Screw conveyors (reference customs commodity number: 8428310010); c. Segment erectors (reference customs commodity number: 8479899959); d. Main drive systems and other key units (reference customs commodity number: 8431499910). (3) 2E906. Remanufacturing technology specially designed for the items controlled under 2A906 or 2B906. II. Items Related to Walking Excavators (1) 2B904. Walking excavators having any of the following characteristics (reference customs commodity number: 8429521920): a. Crossing vertical obstacles exceeding 1.2 m in height; b. Wading depth exceeding 1.5 m; c. Crossing trenches exceeding 3 m in width; d. Walking gradeability exceeding 40 degrees. Technical note: A walking excavator refers to mechanical equipment that uses the compound action of working devices, outriggers, or wheels to achieve self-propulsion, thereby carrying out multifunctional excavation on all-terrain surfaces. (2) 2E904. Electro-hydraulic proportional control technology for hydraulic systems specially designed for the items controlled under 2B904. III. Items Related to Plateau-Type Wet Spraying Machines (1) 2B903. Plateau-type wet spraying machines used in areas above 3,000 m in altitude and having all of the following characteristics (reference customs commodity number: 8479109010): a. Maximum engine power exceeding 75 kW and torque exceeding 680 Nm; b. Maximum motor power exceeding 55 kW; c. Pumping system material suction efficiency higher than 95%; d. Air compressor displacement exceeding 15 m3/min; e. Low-temperature hydraulic oil usable for the hydraulic system at -20 degrees C. Technical note: A plateau-type wet spraying machine refers to equipment that, in plateau areas, transports mixed materials (such as concrete) to the nozzle and sprays the materials onto the working surface by adding air and accelerating agents. (2) 2A903. Parts and components specially designed for the items controlled under 2B903: a. Plateau-type engines with maximum engine power exceeding 75 kW and torque exceeding 680 Nm (reference customs commodity numbers: 8408909240, 8408909330); b. Engine auxiliary oxygen supply devices (reference customs commodity number: 8421399030); c. Plateau-type motors with maximum power exceeding 55 kW (reference customs commodity numbers: 8501520020, 8501530020); d. Two-stage compression air compressors with displacement exceeding 15 m3/min (reference customs commodity number: 8414804110); e. Plateau-type chassis (reference customs commodity number: 8479909030); f. Folding arms (reference customs commodity number: 8479909030). (3) 2E903. Hydraulic and pumping technologies specially designed for the items controlled under 2B903. Export operators exporting the above items to sensitive countries and regions with which China has disputes shall apply to the competent commerce department of the State Council for permission in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items. Without permission, no export of the above items to the above countries and regions shall be allowed. For exports to other countries and regions around the world, export certificates shall be obtained by registering and filling in information. Export operators and end users must undertake not to transfer or provide the above items originating in China to countries and regions with which China has disputes without permission. Organizations and individuals outside China shall not, without permission, transfer or provide the above items originating in China to sensitive countries and regions with which China has disputes. Export operators shall be responsible for the authenticity of declared goods, strengthen the identification of export items, and, for items that are controlled, must indicate "dual-use items" in the remarks column of the customs declaration form and list the dual-use item export control code; for items that are not controlled but whose parameters, indicators, performance, and other aspects are close to those of controlled items, they must indicate "not dual-use items" in the remarks column of the customs declaration form and fill in the specific parameters and indicators. Where there is doubt about the completeness, accuracy, and authenticity of the above information, customs will raise questions in accordance with the law, and the export goods shall not be released during the questioning period. This announcement shall officially take effect on November 18, 2026. The Dual-Use Items Export Control List of the People's Republic of China shall be updated accordingly. Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs October 19, 2026 This article is excerpted from the official website of the Ministry of Commerce, edited by GMTEight's Feng Qiuyi.