U.S. plan to prevent key object to dominate the skies from reaching China at all costs gets underway
The U.S. Department of Commerce has suspended the sale of equipment to China’s Comac, the aircraft manufacturer challenging Airbus and Boeing in the commercial aviation market.
The trade war continues—this time, in the skies. The U.S. Department of Commerce has halted the delivery of the LEAP-1C engine to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, better known as Comac. This decision directly impacts the development and production of the C919, a narrow-body jet designed to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
The engine in question is made by CFM International, a joint venture between U.S.-based GE Aerospace and France’s Safran. Despite being billed as a major milestone in Chinese aerospace, the C919 relies heavily on foreign-made components, including its engines. As a result, tech restrictions imposed by Western powers significantly undermine China’s aviation ambitions.
The move, first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by Reuters, is part of a broader review of exports deemed “strategic.” A spokesperson from the U.S. Commerce Department said they are “pausing export licenses for certain technologies while this review is underway.”
A “malicious” move with clear intent, says China
Beijing responded swiftly. A spokesperson from the Chinese embassy in Washington, according to Reuters, accused the U.S. of “abusing export controls” and called the measure a “malicious blockade” aimed at slowing China’s industrial development.
The C919 is Comac’s flagship project, meant to tap into the growing global demand for mid-range aircraft. Delays and production issues at Airbus and Boeing have left airlines frustrated, potentially opening a door for new players like Comac.
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However, despite receiving numerous domestic orders, the C919 is not yet certified to operate in Europe or the United States. Comac is currently working toward certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which it hopes to obtain later this year—a key milestone for its global ambitions.
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