China will require export licenses for specified drones from Nov. 18, while a separate notice puts listed heavy machinery under licensing when shipments go to sensitive destinations involved in disputes with Beijing.
The drone notice was issued jointly by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) and the Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department. The machinery notice came from MOFCOM and GAC. Both measures take effect Nov. 18.
The drone controls cover unmanned aircraft with ranges of at least 300 kilometers, some engines, motors, communications equipment and related technologies. The 300-kilometer category has no endurance test; drones controllable beyond visual line of sight require at least three hours’ endurance or at least 30 minutes plus the specified gust-performance threshold.
Registration-based certificates are available for the specified drone category and qualifying temporary exhibition shipments. Exporters with qualifying compliance records may also seek general-license facilitation under the drone rules.
Machinery covered by the second notice includes full-face tunnel-boring machines and selected parts, walking excavators that meet specified performance thresholds, and wet-spraying machines for use above 3,000 meters that satisfy all listed technical criteria.
Exporters sending covered machinery to sensitive countries and regions involved in disputes with China must apply for licenses. For other destinations, registration-based certificates are available, but exporters and end users must pledge not to send the Chinese-origin items onward to a covered destination without approval. The notice does not identify the countries or regions subject to the tighter licensing condition.
MOFCOM said the listed goods have civilian and military applications and cited national security and nonproliferation obligations. The ministry said it would approve license applications that meet the rules. It said the drone changes reflect industry feedback and technological development, and that it supports compliant trade in civilian drones.
The notices establish separate licensing routes for the two product groups, with the machinery requirement tied to destination. Exporters will face the new rules beginning Nov. 18.
