Reuters reports that the U.S. has suspended some technology sales to China, including licenses for jet engine components used in the COMAC C919 aircraft, in response to China’s recent export restrictions on critical minerals. The move, initially reported by The New York Times on Wednesday, states that U.S. firms supplying key parts for the C919, a Chinese-made jet designed to compete with Airbus and Boeing. The aircraft relies heavily on foreign technology, including LEAP engines from GE Aerospace and France’s Safran. The suspension marks a shift from earlier policies that favored continued engine sales to China under the Trump administration. They write:
The United States has suspended some sales to China of critical U.S. technologies, including those related to jet engines to Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer COMAC, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Citing two people familiar with the matter, the newspaper said the move was in response to China’s recent restriction on exports of critical minerals to the U.S. The paper said the department had suspended some licenses that allowed U.S. firms to sell products and technology to COMAC to develop its C919 aircraft. […]
The C919 is made in China but many of its components come from overseas, including its LEAP engine which is made by GE Aerospace and French engine maker Safran. GE Aerospace did not offer an immediate comment. […]
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