China imposes export controls on tunnel-boring machines sought by India, citing ‘national security’

China on Monday (October 19, 2026) said it would introduce export controls on tunnel-boring machines “to better safeguard national security and interests”, starting November 18.

India has already been facing difficulties in customs clearance and delays in importing TBMs from China for several critical infrastructure projects. The latest announcement comes days after Beijing announced a plan to impose sweeping export controls on 40 cutting-edge technologies including those for certain advanced solar manufacturing and some AI platforms.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Monday (October 19) in an announcement, it was “introducing export controls on tunnel-boring machines and related items and optimising and adjusting export-control measures for certain dredgers and related items.” The measures will take effect on November 18.

The Ministry said prior to the announcement, China had “notified the relevant countries and regions with which it has established export-control dialogue mechanisms.”

“The items covered by these measures have clear dual-use (civilian and military) characteristics,” the announcement said. “The measures are intended to better safeguard national security and interests, while also enabling China to better fulfil its international obligations, including those related to non-proliferation”.

India has previously raised with China the delays in customs clearance for imports of TBMs, which are used in India for several critical projects including the construction of metro rail networks in cities, railway corridors and key tunnelling projects including in border areas.

India is dependent on imports for the machines. Difficulties in imports from China started in 2024. In October of that year, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had publicly raised the issue with visiting German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, pointing out that China was blocking the export of TBMs made by a German company in China.

On Monday, China also announced export control measures related to certain types of drones. The controlled items include ”autopilots specially designed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); UAVs or unmanned airships with a maximum endurance of three hours or more; certain engines specially designed for UAVs or unmanned airships; and UAVs with a range of 300 kilometers or more” among other items.

The latest announcements followed Beijing on October 16 unveiling a sweeping draft plan to restrict exports of more than 40 cutting-edge technologies, including solar manufacturing technologies, some AI models, and certain biotech platforms.

A number of technologies related to the manufacture of solar cells have been listed for either a complete export ban or restricted exports. While the draft plan does not restrict most solar exports, the new controls on next-generation solar manufacturing technologies could impact efforts by countries including India to reduce dependence on China as they look to move up the solar manufacturing chain.