China toughens rules on outbound investment after Meta-Manus contention

China toughens rules on outbound investment after Meta-Manus contention

The Manus AI agent app is displayed on mobile phones with the logo of U.S. tech giant Meta in the app interface, in this illustration picture taken April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration

China issued sweeping new rules on Monday, widening regulators’ powers to scrutinise overseas deals involving Chinese investors, technology, data and national security, a month after Beijing ordered the unwinding of Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus.

The rules, published by the State Council, or cabinet, will take effect from July 1. One of the most significant requires authorisation for exports of restricted Chinese goods, technologies, services or related data.

The rules also bar indirect transfers through cross-border deployment of technical staff and guidance, training programmes or other arrangements.

Reuters

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