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On October 19, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce answered reporters' questions regarding the imposition of export controls on tunnel boring machines and other items, as well as the optimization and adjustment of export control measures on dredger-related items.
Question: On October 19, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, jointly issued an announcement to impose export controls on tunnel boring machines and other items and to optimize and adjust export control measures on dredger-related items. What are the considerations behind this?
Answer: In accordance with the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations, on October 19, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, issued an announcement on imposing export controls on tunnel boring machines and other items and optimizing and adjusting export control measures on dredger-related items, which will officially take effect on November 18. Prior to this, we had already notified relevant countries and regions that have established export control dialogue mechanisms with China.
The items related to these measures have obvious dual-use characteristics. China implements export control measures in accordance with laws and regulations, which is consistent with common international practice, better safeguards national security and interests, and better fulfills international obligations such as non-proliferation. As a responsible major country, China's listing or optimization and adjustment of relevant control measures reflects its consistent position of firmly upholding world peace and regional stability.
The Chinese government is willing to work with all countries to maintain the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains. China will review relevant export license applications in accordance with laws and regulations, and will approve applications that meet the requirements. At the same time, China is willing to engage in communication and dialogue with relevant parties on export control policies and practices through bilateral export control dialogue and exchange mechanisms, and to jointly actively promote and facilitate compliant trade.
On the 19th, the Ministry of Commerce website published the "Announcement No. 50 of 2026 of the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs: Decision on Imposing Export Controls on Tunnel Boring Machines and Other Items": 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 on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items of the People's Republic of China, and in order to safeguard national security and interests, with the approval of the State Council, it is decided to impose export controls on the following items:
I. Tunneling machine-related items
(1) 2B906. Full-section tunnel boring machines.
a. Earth pressure balance shield machines, slurry balance shield machines, and other types of shield machines (reference customs commodity number: 8430313010);
b. Open-type, single-shield, double-shield rock tunnel boring machines, and other types of rock tunnel boring machines (reference customs commodity number: 8430313010).
(2) 2A906. Parts and components specially designed for items controlled under 2B906:
a. Cutting tools and 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 items controlled under 2A906 or 2B906.
II. Walking excavator-related items
(1) 2B904. Walking excavators with any of the following characteristics (reference customs commodity number: 8429521920):
a. Capable of crossing vertical obstacles exceeding 1.2 m in height;
b. Capable of wading in water deeper than 1.5 m;
c. Capable of crossing trenches wider than 3 m;
d. Capable of climbing slopes steeper than 40°.
Technical note: Walking excavators refer to mechanical equipment that uses the compound action of working devices, outriggers, or wheels to achieve self-propelled movement, thereby carrying out multifunctional excavation on all-terrain surfaces.
(2) 2E904. Electro-hydraulic proportional control technology for hydraulic systems specially designed for items controlled under 2B904.
III. Plateau-type wet shotcrete machine-related items
(1) 2B903. Plateau-type wet shotcrete machines used in areas above 3,000 m in altitude and having all of the following characteristics (reference customs commodity number: 8479109010):
a. Engine maximum power exceeding 75 kW and torque exceeding 680 N·m;
b. Motor maximum power exceeding 55 kW;
c. Pumping system suction efficiency higher than 95%;
d. Air compressor displacement exceeding 15 m3/min;
e. Low-temperature hydraulic oil usable for hydraulic systems at -20°C.
Technical note: Plateau-type wet shotcrete machines refer to equipment that transports mixed materials (such as concrete) to the nozzle in plateau areas and sprays the materials onto the working surface by adding air and accelerating agents.
(2) 2A903. Parts and components specially designed for items controlled under 2B903:
a. Plateau-type engines with maximum power exceeding 75 kW and torque exceeding 680 N·m (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 technology specially designed for items controlled under 2B903.
Export operators exporting the above items to sensitive countries and regions that have disputes with China shall apply to the competent department of commerce of the State Council for a license in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items of the People's Republic of China. Without a license, no export to the above countries and regions shall be made. For exports to other countries and regions around the world, export certificates shall be obtained through registration and information filing. Export operators and end users must undertake not to transfer or provide the above items originating in China to countries and regions that have disputes with China without a license.
Organizations and individuals outside China shall not, without a license, transfer or provide the above items originating in China to sensitive countries and regions that have disputes with China.
Export operators shall be responsible for the authenticity of declared commodities and shall strengthen the identification of export items. For items that are controlled, they must indicate "belongs to 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 "does not belong to dual-use items" in the remarks column of the customs declaration form and fill in the specific parameters and indicators.
If the completeness, accuracy, and authenticity of the above filed information are in doubt, customs will raise questions in accordance with the law, and the export goods will 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
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