In 1980 China’s State Council and Central Military Commission approved the establishment of the New Era (Xinshidai) Corporation.[1] In 1986 New Era began managing arms exports and trade for the former Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND).[2] It is one of China’s two largest military hardware conglomerates, the other being Poly Technologies Corporation.

The New Era Corporation’s has numerous export-related affiliates. They include the China Great wall Industry Corporation, NORINCO, and the China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC).[3]

In 2006 the U.S. Department of State imposed two-year sanctions on the New Era Corporation for missile technology proliferation under Executive Order 12938.[4] In 2008 the State Department again imposed two-year sanctions on the New Era Corporation, this time in pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act.[5]

The New Era Corporation’s website advertises conventional military equipment, including artillery, rockets, and light arms. It is unclear to what extent the corporation itself is still involved in missile exports.[6] They expanded their trade in civilian industries, including agriculture, construction, and mining.[7]

Sources:
[1] “公司简介 [Introduction to the Company],” New Era (Xinshidai) Corporation, http://www.xsd.com.cn.
[2] John W. Lewis, Hua Di, and Xue Litai, “Beijing’s Defense Establishment: Solving the Arms-Export Enigma,” International Security, Spring 1991, p. 92; Yan Kong, "China's Arms Trade Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, February 1994, p. 80.
[3] U.S. Government Printing Office, “Testimony of Daniel A. Pinkston Before U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hearing on China’s Proliferation Practices and Its Role in the North Korea Nuclear Crisis on March 10 2005,” 2005 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, November 2005.
[4] Department of State, “Imposition of Nonproliferation Measures on an Entity in China, Including a Ban on U.S. Government Procurement,” Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 181, 20 September 2004.
[5] U.S. Department of State, “Bureau of Verification, Compliance and Implementation: Imposition of Measures Against Foreign Persons, Including a Ban on U.S. Government Procurement,” Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 206, 23 October 2008.
[6] “产品中心 [Products Center],” New Era (Xinshidai) Corporation, http://www.xsd.com.cn/.
[7] “Tajik Premier, Chinese Firm Chief Discuss Cooperation,” text from Avesta website, distributed by BBC, 8 May 2008, via: http://www.lexisnexis.com; Linda Lin, “Spotlight: China’s Cobalt Sector Embarks on Road to Consolidation,” Metal Bulletin, 20 June 2011.