US Eases Export Curbs, GE Cleared to Resume Jet Engine Shipments to China

The U.S. government has cleared GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) to resume jet engine shipments to China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer COMAC, signaling a thaw in ongoing trade tensions between the two economic superpowers. According to Reuters, the approval covers GE’s LEAP-1C engines, developed in partnership with France’s Safran, for COMAC’s C919 narrow-body jet. It also includes CF34 engines for the smaller regional C909 aircraft.

This move is part of a broader trend by the U.S. to ease certain export restrictions imposed under the previous administration. Earlier this week, Washington also lifted export curbs on specific chip design software tools and ethane-related technologies bound for China. These steps reflect a strategic shift in balancing national security concerns with economic and industrial cooperation.

At least one other aerospace company reportedly received similar regulatory relief, suggesting a coordinated approach to reviving key aviation supply chains. The C919 jet, seen as China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus, heavily relies on U.S. and European components. GE’s engines are critical to the program's progress and global competitiveness.

The decision also comes in the wake of recent disruptions caused by China’s export controls on rare earth materials, which had strained global manufacturing and defense supply chains. The reciprocal easing of restrictions hints at a renewed diplomatic effort to stabilize U.S.-China trade relations amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.

With the resumption of engine exports, GE and other aerospace suppliers could regain momentum in the strategically vital Chinese aviation market, which is expected to become one of the largest globally over the next two decades. This development offers a potential boost to trans-Pacific industrial ties while reinforcing the importance of U.S. firms in China’s aviation ambitions.