VIVAERO Eyeing rare earths, US restricts aircraft part exports to China Amid the global race for an independent rare-earth supply chain, the United States has imposed new limits on export licenses for aircraft parts destined for China. The move particularly affects the Chinese state-owned manufacturer Comac—maker of the C919 commercial jet—and raises concerns in Beijing regarding potential bans on the supply of US-made engines that are essential to the project. According to sources cited by Reuters, these restrictions are part of a Trump administration strategy to pressure Beijing into easing controls on the export of strategic minerals used in high-tech sectors, including aviation and defense. Since early October, the US Department of Commerce has reduced the volume of parts authorized for Comac, aiming to prevent the Chinese state-owned firm from stockpiling components that could mitigate the impact of future embargoes. The licensing process has also slowed, with discussions un...
