The United States has announced a new restriction on technology exports to China. According to a report by The New York Times, the Biden administration has halted the sale of certain American technologies to China’s state-backed aerospace manufacturer COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China). The move is seen as a response to China’s recent restrictions on the export of critical minerals to the U.S.
Jet Engines and Critical Components on the List
The U.S. Department of Commerce stated that its strategic export policy toward China is being comprehensively reevaluated. As part of this process, licenses that previously allowed American companies to sell products and technologies to COMAC have been suspended. Among the suspended permissions are those concerning the LEAP-1C jet engines used in China’s single-aisle passenger aircraft, the C919.
The C919 relies on engines produced by a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran. China’s inability to fully develop its own domestic jet engine technology means the country remains dependent on foreign suppliers in this sector.
Commerce Department: Licenses Suspended
In an official statement, the U.S. Department of Commerce said:
“In certain cases, existing export licenses have been suspended or are under review with additional licensing requirements imposed.”
The department emphasised that such restrictions are implemented in line with U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.
Is the C919 Program at Risk?
The C919 passenger aircraft, developed as a domestic alternative to Boeing and Airbus, is a cornerstone of China’s ambition to reduce its reliance on foreign aviation technologies. However, the lack of a fully capable domestic engine and advanced aerospace systems threatens to stall the project.
The U.S. restrictions could have serious implications not only for COMAC but also for global aerospace supply chains.
