BEIJING/LOS ANGELES, April 15 (Reuters) - Chinese officials have held initial talks with providers of equipment to make solar panels as they consider limiting exports of the most advanced technology to the United States, said five people with knowledge of the consultations. Such a clampdown would risk investments by U.S. firms and set back a race for space-based computing, as China, estimated to make more than 80% of the world's solar panel components, is also home to the top 10 suppliers of equipment to make solar cells.
If adopted, such a move could threaten plans by U.S. firms, such as Tesla
, to build new factories or expand existing ones in efforts to boost local production. It would also widen export controls in another area of technology where China has a lead, building on Beijing's move to control rare earth exports a year ago in response to U.S. tariffs.