China reviews Meta’s $2B Manus AI deal for export control issues following the startup’s tech and staff move to Singapore.

China is set to tighten controls on silver exports from Thursday, extending its oversight over a metal that has traditionally been treated as an ordinary commodity but is increasingly viewed as strategically important to global industry and defense supply chains.

Chinese government officials are reportedly reviewing Meta Platforms $2 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus, raising potential concerns over technology transfer and national security

Silver prices surge as China restricts exports and global inventories drop 70%. Physical supply gaps widen amid rising industrial demand.

China on Tuesday named the companies that will be able to export tungsten, antimony and silver during the 2026 and 2027 period, metals Beijing deems as critical to support its own industries.

Beijing is examining whether the sale of the Chinese-founded AI start-up to Meta breaches export control rules, in a case that could test how far China is willing to police the global break-up of tech ecosystems.