China's Ministry of Commerce announced export controls on additional types of drones, dredger components and some tunnel boring machines on Monday, according to Bloomberg. The measures take effect Nov. 18.
The controls cover the new drone types along with their parts and technologies. They also reach parts for dredgers, such as mud pumps and cutterheads, according to Bloomberg. Tunnel boring machines were not subject to export controls before this announcement.
The ministry labeled the items as clearly serving both military and civilian purposes, according to Bloomberg. It said it had already informed the countries that take part in export control talks with Beijing.
In a separate notice on Monday, the ministry said it will tighten checks on outbound shipments to spot dual-use items, effective immediately. The procedure will call for receipts and shipping records that demonstrate how the goods moved, according to Bloomberg. It covers goods sent through cross-border e-commerce, as well as items carried in passengers' bags or sent by post or express courier.
Boring machines can dig subterranean passages for fortified military facilities, according to Bloomberg. China holds roughly 70% of worldwide market share in the machines. China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co Ltd is among its leading producers, with its shield products in use across 36 countries, Denmark and France among them. Germany's Herrenknecht AG is a top competitor.
Dredgers serve in the construction of naval facilities, and China produces them in large volumes, according to Bloomberg. Netherlands-based Royal IHC NA is among the rivals in that market.
The announcement adds to a run of Chinese export control actions. Beijing has put limits on rare earth sales, according to Bloomberg. On Friday, the Ministry of Commerce proposed placing five biomedical technologies under export controls as part of a wider plan covering technologies in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and solar power. A one-month public consultation on that draft began Friday.
In June, China barred exports of dual-use goods to 10 U.S. entities. The group included drone makers Teal Drones and Jaia Robotics.
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