The United States reportedly suspends the sale of some critical technology to China, including technology related to jet engines for China's commercial aircraft.
According to a report by The New York Times, two informed sources stated that the U.S.'s move is in response to China's implementation of rare earth export controls in April. It is reported that U.S. officials have paused the issuance of licenses allowing American companies to sell products and technologies used for the development of the C919 aircraft to China's commercial aircraft sector.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Chinese Embassy in the United States have yet to respond to requests for comment.
The C919 is manufactured in China, but reportedly many of its components come from abroad, including the LEAP engine manufactured by GE Aviation and France's Safran Group.
The C919 received domestic safety certification in China in 2022 and began operations in China in 2023, currently flying only within China and Hong Kong.
In 2020, during his first term, U.S. President Trump issued a license to GE Aviation, allowing the company to supply engines to China. At the time, Trump stated, "I want China to buy our aircraft engines, the best in the world," and "I want to make it easier for American companies to do business, not harder."