China has decided to grant exemptions from import tariffs for some aircraft parts, including jet engines, according to the CEO of French engine maker Safran.
“… China has taken the decision not to tax engines or landing gear or nacelles (engine housings), in other words a certain number of aerospace equipment parts.”
Together with GE Aerospace, Safran co-produces LEAP jet engines for best-selling Boeing and Airbus narrow-body jets, as well as China's COMAC C919 jetliner.
Factories are based in France and the US and GE and Safran are responsible for different parts of the engine, which is the sole powerplant available on the Boeing 737 MAX and competes with 
Pratt & Whitney on the Airbus A320neo.
CFM, a JV between GE Aerospace and Safran, has been doing business in China since 1985 and its customers include state airlines and national aerospace champion COMAC.
A waiver for engines and parts would lift some uncertainty over the availability of spares and services needed for China's carriers to keep their fleets in the air.
Parts for repairs are already in high demand due to shortages of new planes driven by snags in the supply chain.
Chinese airlines were understood to be requesting carve-outs or exemptions for some imports.
Airbus also relies on supplies of CFM engines and competing models from Pratt & Whitney for the assembly of some of its jets in the port city of Tianjin.
Finally, China's own domestic passenger jet, the C919, relies on CFM engines and other Western parts though China has embarked on efforts to develop a home-grown alternative engine.
Suppliers of significant parts for China's first fully developed passenger jet include RTX unit Collins Aerospace, Honeywell and half a dozen other mainly US suppliers.
reuters.com/markets/europe
Pratt & Whitney on the Airbus A320neo.
CFM, a JV between GE Aerospace and Safran, has been doing business in China since 1985 and its customers include state airlines and national aerospace champion COMAC.
A waiver for engines and parts would lift some uncertainty over the availability of spares and services needed for China's carriers to keep their fleets in the air.
Parts for repairs are already in high demand due to shortages of new planes driven by snags in the supply chain.
Chinese airlines were understood to be requesting carve-outs or exemptions for some imports.
Airbus also relies on supplies of CFM engines and competing models from Pratt & Whitney for the assembly of some of its jets in the port city of Tianjin.
Finally, China's own domestic passenger jet, the C919, relies on CFM engines and other Western parts though China has embarked on efforts to develop a home-grown alternative engine.
Suppliers of significant parts for China's first fully developed passenger jet include RTX unit Collins Aerospace, Honeywell and half a dozen other mainly US suppliers.
reuters.com/markets/europe