US Blocks Aircraft Engine Sales to China's COMAC Aircraft Maker

The aviation industry is witnessing another escalation in US-China trade tensions as Washington has suspended critical technology exports to Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC.

This latest development threatens to significantly impact China's ambitious plans to challenge Boeing and Airbus in the global commercial aviation market.

The Suspension Details

On May 28, 2025, reports emerged that the United States had halted certain sales of vital technologies to China, specifically targeting jet engines destined for the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. The move represents a direct response to China's recent limitations on exporting essential minerals to the United States^1,^2.

The US Commerce Department revoked several licenses that previously allowed American companies to provide products and technology to COMAC for developing its flagship C919 aircraft.

This action affects not just engines but broader technology transfers critical to the aircraft's development and production.

Key Technologies Affected:
• CFM LEAP jet engines (GE Aerospace partnership)
• Avionics systems
• Flight control technology
• Various aircraft components and systems

The C919's Foreign Dependency Challenge

The timing of this suspension poses particular challenges for COMAC's C919 narrow-body aircraft, which entered commercial service in 2023^4. Despite being manufactured in China, the C919 relies heavily on foreign suppliers for critical components, creating vulnerabilities in its supply chain.

The most significant dependency lies in its powerplant. The C919 uses CFM International LEAP-1C engines, produced through a joint venture between American GE Aerospace and French company Safran^1,^4. This partnership has been fundamental to the aircraft's development since GE received initial licensing for the LEAP engines back in 2014^1.

Production Impact and Timing

The suspension comes at a critical moment for COMAC's production ramp-up plans. The Chinese manufacturer had set ambitious targets to increase C919 production capacity to 50 aircraft annually by the end of 2025, representing a 50% increase from previous targets. Looking further ahead, COMAC aimed to scale production to 200 C919 jets per year by 2029^5.

These production goals appear increasingly challenging given the current restrictions. COMAC has delivered only 16 C919 aircraft since the program began commercial operations^5,^19, with plans to deliver 30 units in 2025.

The company faces a substantial backlog of over 1,000 orders, predominantly from domestic Chinese airlines^5,^19.

COMAC Production Targets:
2025: 50 aircraft capacity, 30 deliveries planned
2029: 200 aircraft capacity (goal)
Current backlog: 1,000+ orders
Delivered to date: 16 aircraft

The Broader Trade Context

This engine export suspension represents the latest chapter in ongoing US-China trade tensions. The relationship between the two economic superpowers has been marked by tit-for-tat measures throughout 2025.

Earlier this year, President Trump's administration imposed sweeping tariffs reaching up to 145% on Chinese goods^10,^12. China responded with 125% countermeasures on US imports, including a temporary ban on Boeing aircraft deliveries^7,^9.

However, a trade truce in May 2025 temporarily eased these tensions, with both countries reducing tariffs for a 90-day negotiation period.

The current suspension suggests that despite the temporary tariff reduction, underlying tensions persist. China's restrictions on critical mineral exports to the US prompted this latest US response^1,^13, highlighting how deeply intertwined trade relationships have become weaponized in the ongoing economic competition.

Strategic Implications for China's Aviation Ambitions

The engine export suspension strikes at the heart of China's strategy to develop an indigenous commercial aviation industry. COMAC was established in 2008 with the explicit goal of challenging the Boeing-Airbus duopoly and reducing China's dependence on foreign aircraft manufacturers^3,^14.

The C919 was designed specifically to compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families^4,^5. However, the aircraft's heavy reliance on Western technology, particularly US components, exposes China's continued technological gaps in critical aviation sectors.

Beyond engines, the C919 depends on numerous US-supplied systems, including flight data recorders, communications equipment, weather radar, aluminum components, and fuel systems^7. This extensive dependency creates multiple pressure points that US export controls can target.

Historical Precedent and Previous Restrictions

This isn't the first time COMAC has faced US restrictions. In January 2021, the Trump administration designated COMAC as a company controlled by China's People's Liberation Army, prohibiting American investment in the company^11.

More recently, in January 2025, COMAC was added to a US Department of Defense list of companies allegedly working with the PLA^3.

The recurring pattern of restrictions reflects broader US concerns about China's military-civil fusion strategy, where civilian technologies potentially serve military purposes^11. These designations have consistently targeted COMAC's access to US capital markets and technology.

Industry Response and Market Impact

The suspension creates immediate operational challenges for COMAC while potentially affecting broader industry dynamics. GE Aerospace, which supplies the LEAP engines, has not provided immediate comments on the situation^1,^2. Similarly, the Commerce Department and Chinese Embassy in Washington have remained silent on specific details^1.

For Chinese airlines currently operating or planning to operate C919 aircraft, the suspension raises concerns about long-term maintenance and support capabilities. The aviation industry requires robust, continuous supply chains for parts and technical support throughout an aircraft's operational life.

Current C919 Operations:
• 18 aircraft in service
• Operating routes: Mainland China and Hong Kong only
• Airlines: China Eastern, Air China, China Southern
• International certification: Limited (pursuing EASA approval)

Looking Forward

The suspension's duration and scope remain unclear, creating uncertainty for both COMAC's production plans and the broader US-China trade relationship. The 90-day tariff truce provides a window for potential diplomatic resolution, but the underlying strategic competition between the two nations suggests continued volatility.

For COMAC, the immediate priority involves assessing alternative suppliers and potentially accelerating domestic engine development programs. However, developing competitive commercial aircraft engines requires years of investment and technological advancement that China hasn't yet achieved.

The situation also highlights the interconnected nature of global aviation supply chains, where political tensions can quickly disrupt commercial relationships built over decades. As the industry watches these developments unfold, the C919's future success will likely depend on how effectively China can navigate these geopolitical challenges while building genuine technological independence.

This latest chapter in US-China trade tensions underscores how aviation has become a key battleground in broader strategic competition, with implications extending far beyond individual aircraft programs to the future structure of the global aerospace industry.