China promises to modernise export control system

China has announced plans to accelerate the modernisation of its export control system, featuring improvements in laws and regulations.

The central government plans to offer more assistance to enterprises facing rising protectionism and abuse of export control in some countries to better protect their legitimate rights and interests, government officials said at a forum on export control compliance.

“The Chinese government believes that export control should follow the principles of ‘fairness, impartiality and nondiscrimination’, and strongly opposes abuse of export control, and unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, which have no basis in international law,” said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce and China international trade representative.

Wang pledged to coordinate development and security, as well as openness and security, “to strike a balance between export control and the promotion of law-based trade in the new circumstances”.

According to the vice-minister, China is making efforts to release its regulations on export control of dual-use items as soon as possible in order to enhance its legal system on the matter and provide better support to enterprises. Dual-use items are those items that can be used for both civil and military purposes.

In October 2020, China promulgated its national law on export control, which was implemented in December 2020. The first white paper on export control was released at the end of 2021 to give a full picture of the nation’s position, system and practices in improving export control governance.