China Implements Export Controls on Items Related to Aircraft and Spacecraft Engines

Today, the website of the Ministry of Commerce of China announced that three departments have implemented export control policies on items related to aircraft and spacecraft engines:

According to 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,” and the “Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China,” and in order to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, the State Council and the Central Military Commission have approved the decision to implement export controls on the following items. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

1. Items meeting the following characteristics shall not be exported without permission:

(1) Aerospace structural components and engine manufacturing-related equipment, software, and technology.

1. Process equipment specifically designed for superplastic forming/diffusion bonding of titanium, aluminum, and their alloys, such as tools, molds, and fixtures, for manufacturing any of the following items (refer to customs commodity codes: 8203200010, 8204110010, 8204120010, 8205400010, 8205900010, 8206000010, 8480419010, 7326901910):

(1) Aircraft structural components or spacecraft structural components;

(2) Aircraft engines or spacecraft engines;

(3) Components specifically designed for aircraft structural components or spacecraft structural components;

(4) Components specifically designed for aircraft engines or spacecraft engines.

1. Software specifically designed or modified for the development, production, or use of the items listed in 1.

2. Technology and its carriers specifically designed or modified for the development, production, or use of the items listed in 1, including design drawings, process specifications, process parameters, processing programs, and simulation data.

Technical Explanation:

Superplastic forming refers to the forming process that utilizes the superplasticity of metallic materials, which exhibit extremely high elongation and resistance to fracture under specific temperature and strain rate conditions, to form various desired shapes within a mold cavity using superplastic metal sheets as the forming blanks.

Diffusion bonding refers to the forming process where two material surfaces in close contact undergo plastic deformation under temperature and pressure, causing atomic interdiffusion and forming a diffusion layer at the interface, thereby achieving reliable bonding.

(2) Equipment, software, and technology related to the manufacturing of gas turbine engines/gas turbines.

1. Equipment for directional or single crystal casting of high-temperature alloys required for manufacturing turbine components such as blades and vanes of gas turbine engines/gas turbines (refer to customs commodity codes: 8454301010, 8454309010).

2. Precision casting intermediates (including ceramic cores, wax mold modules, shell molds) specifically designed for manufacturing turbine components such as blades, vanes, and casings of gas turbine engines/gas turbines, as well as process equipment such as tools, molds, and fixtures specifically designed for manufacturing these intermediates (refer to customs commodity codes: 6903100010, 6903200010, 6903900010, 6909110010, 6909120010, 6909190010, 8480490010, 8205900020, 8428909030, 8480600010, 7326901920, 7616991020, 9031809081).

3. Process equipment such as tools, molds, and fixtures specifically designed for the solid-state bonding of disk materials made of high-temperature alloys, titanium alloys, or intermetallic compounds for gas turbine engines/gas turbines (refer to customs commodity codes: 8205900030, 6804219010, 6804229010, 8207201010, 8207209010, 8207300030, 8480419020, 8466200010, 7326901930, 9031809082).

4. Software specifically designed or modified for the development, production, or use of the items listed in 1, 2, and 3.

5. Technology and its carriers specifically designed or modified for the development, production, or use of the items listed in 1, 2, and 3, including design drawings, process specifications, process parameters, processing programs, and simulation data.

Technical Explanation:

High-temperature alloy refers to nickel-based, cobalt-based, or iron-based alloys containing refractory metals that can withstand complex stress under oxidation and thermal corrosion conditions at 600°C or above, maintaining good comprehensive performance and reliable long-term operation, also known as “superalloys.”

(3) Equipment, software, and technology related to spacesuit faceplates.

1. Molds specifically designed for manufacturing spacesuit faceplates (refer to customs commodity code: 8480719020).

2. Software specifically designed or modified for the development, production, or use of the items listed in 1.

3. Technology and its carriers specifically designed or modified for the development, production, or use of the items listed in 1, including design drawings, process specifications, process parameters, processing programs, and simulation data.

(4) Items related to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers.

1. UHMWPE fibers with a breaking strength ≥ 40 cN/dtex, an initial modulus ≥ 1600 cN/dtex, and untwisted (refer to customs commodity codes: 5402491010, 5501900010, 5503909010).

2. Soft non-woven fabric layers made of UHMWPE fibers that provide V50 protection of ≥ 700 m/s against 1.1g standard simulated fragments (17-grain FSP) at an area density ≤ 5.3 kg/m² (tested according to GJB4300A-2012 Appendix B “Ballistic Limit V50 Test Method”) (refer to customs commodity code: 5806409010).

3. Technology and its carriers for producing the items listed in 1 and 2, including design drawings, process specifications, process parameters, processing programs, and simulation data.

2. Export operators shall handle export licensing procedures in accordance with relevant regulations, apply to the Ministry of Commerce through provincial-level commercial authorities, and submit the following documents:

(a) The original or a copy, or scanned copy of the export contract or agreement;

(b) Technical descriptions or inspection reports of the items to be exported;

(c) End-user and end-use certification;

(d) Introduction of the importer and end-user;

(e) Identification documents of the applicant’s legal representative, principal operating manager, and handler.

3. The Ministry of Commerce shall review the export application documents or, in conjunction with relevant departments, conduct a review and make a decision to grant or deny the license within the legal time limit.

For exports of items listed in this announcement that have a significant impact on national security, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, will report to the State Council for approval.

4. For approved exports, the Ministry of Commerce will issue dual-use items and technology export licenses (hereinafter referred to as export licenses).

5. The procedures for applying for and issuing export licenses, handling special circumstances, and the retention period of documents shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs Order No. 29 of 2005 (“Administrative Measures for the Import and Export Licensing of Dual-use Items and Technology”).

6. Export operators shall present the export licenses to customs, handle customs procedures in accordance with the provisions of the “Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China,” and accept customs supervision. Customs will process clearance based on the export licenses issued by the Ministry of Commerce.

7. Export operators who export without permission, exceed the permitted scope of export, or engage in other illegal activities shall be subject to administrative penalties by the Ministry of Commerce, customs, or other departments in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. If a crime is constituted, criminal liability will be pursued according to law.

8. The export of protective equipment made of UHMWPE fibers, such as bulletproof helmets, bulletproof vests, bulletproof plates (bulletproof armor plates, composite bulletproof plates), and UHMWPE fiber non-woven fabric targets used for making protective equipment, shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the “Regulations on the Administration of Military Product Exports of the People’s Republic of China.”

9. This announcement shall be implemented as of July 1, 2024.

Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department

May 30, 2024

(Source: Ministry of Commerce of China website)