US export controls leave Chinese researchers struggling to buy scientific instruments

An image showing a Chinese scientist

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Research tools such as mass spectrometers make up as much as 40% of restricted items, analysis by Chinese researchers finds

An analysis by Chinese researchers suggests that over 40% of items on the US export control list are scientific instruments required by China’s laboratory researchers. Of 12 categories defined by the US government, analytical instruments such as mass spectrometers, process laboratory equipment including tools used in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, and performance testing instruments such as particle size analysers are the most tightly controlled.