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China's COMAC C919, a narrowbody airliner introduced in 2017 and entering service in 2023, faces potential challenges due to its reliance on US components. The aircraft is intended to compete with Boeing's 737 MAX and Airbus' A320neo. However, former President Trump included COMAC on a Department of Defense sanctions list during his final days in office.
The Trump administration's actions against Chinese firms were part of an effort to solidify a tough-on-China legacy. "The Trump administration on Thursday added nine Chinese firms to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, including planemaker Comac and mobile phone maker Xiaomi," Reuters reported.
Currently, the blacklist requires US investors to divest from these companies but stops short of banning US suppliers from providing components for the C919. Yet, this could change if future policies further restrict such interactions. The production of the C919 might halt if US components become unavailable.
