THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS GOVERNING CHINA–AFRICA TRADE, AND THE (MIS)ALIGNMENT INTRODUCED BY HIMALAYAN TRADE-ROUTE CHALLENGES

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the regulatory and material foundations of international trade, with significant implications for China–Africa economic relations. This article argues that the emerging AI trade nexus can only be understood through the joint analysis of fragmented multi-level governance and contested physical geography. It examines how the dual-use nature of AI—covering hardware, software, and data-driven services—challenges traditional export control regimes and intersects with data governance frameworks amid intensifying US–China technological rivalry and Africa’s pursuit of digital sovereignty. Moving beyond policy-centred approaches, the paper shows how material geography mediates digital trade flows. Using the Himalayan region as an illustrative case, it demonstrates how geopolitical tensions, infrastructure constraints, and logistical bottlenecks indirectly reroute China–Africa AI supply chains, shaping enforcement capacity and vulnerabilities to regulatory circumvention. The article concludes by proposing integrated policy responses emphasizing multilateral cooperation, regulatory harmonisation, and export-control modernisation.