U.S. Blocks Sale of CFM Aircraft Engine to China

Commerce Department is reviewing ‘exports of strategic significance’ as trade war intensifies.

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Comac's first production C919. [Courtesy: Comac]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Commerce Department has paused the sale of some American-made aviation equipment, including CFM International’s LEAP 1-C engine, to China's airplane maker Comac for its C919.
This export block significantly impacts Comac, whose C919 aircraft relies heavily on foreign components like the LEAP 1-C engine, as China's own commercial jet engine is still years from completion.
The U.S. is employing export controls as part of an effort to rebalance global trade, targeting China, while China views these actions as an abuse of controls to suppress its industry.
The C919, currently used almost exclusively in mainland China, requires EASA certification for future commercial prospects, which is challenged by this suspension of critical component sales.

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The U.S. Commerce Department has paused the sale of some American-made aviation equipment to China, including CFM International’s LEAP 1-C engine, which Chinese airplane maker Comac uses to power its narrowbody C919.

The New York Times first reported the export block on Wednesday, citing officials with knowledge of the matter. The department largely confirmed the newspaper’s reporting to Reuters, saying in a statement that it is reviewing “exports of strategic significance to China” and suspending export licenses for certain technology as that review continues.