COMAC Considers Airbus Route to Avoid Tariffs on LEAP Engines
China is exploring a strategy to bypass tariffs on U.S. imports by routing CFM International LEAP engines for the COMAC C919 aircraft through Airbus deliveries, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The proposal would involve Airbus supplying an additional set of LEAP engines alongside aircraft deliveries to China, potentially reclassifying the engines as European goods rather than direct U.S. exports.
This maneuver could help COMAC sidestep the 125% tariffs imposed by Beijing on U.S. goods, a response to the Trump administration’s 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. The state-owned aircraft manufacturer currently has enough LEAP engines stockpiled for its 2025 production plans but requires additional units to support its ramp-up in 2026 and beyond.
The LEAP-1C engine, produced by CFM International—a joint venture between U.S.-based General Electric and France’s Safran Aircraft Engines—is the sole powerplant for the COMAC C919. While CFM’s production is split between the U.S. and France, the consortium’s headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, subjects the engines to U.S. trade restrictions.
CFM International also manufactures the LEAP-1A for Airbus A320neo aircraft and the LEAP-1B for Boeing 737 MAX jets. China is developing its own alternative, the CJ-1000A engine, through Aero Engine Corporation of China, but the domestic engine remains in early testing with no confirmed timeline for service entry.
If successful, routing LEAP engines via Airbus could offer COMAC a temporary solution to continue its C919 production while mitigating the impact of escalating trade tensions.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com