WORLD NEWS FEBRUARY 18, 2020 / 10:25 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Trump blasts proposed restrictions on selling U.S. jet parts to China

Jeff Mason, Makini Brice
4 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday blasted proposals that could hinder U.S. companies from supplying jet engines and other components to China’s aviation industry and said he had instructed his administration to prevent such moves.

The president’s intervention illustrated, at least in this case, his desire to prioritize economic benefits over potential competitive pitfalls and national security concerns.

It also contrasts with the sharp restrictions his administration has placed on U.S. companies trading with Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker, citing national security reasons.

In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Trump said national security should not be used as an “excuse” to make it difficult for foreign countries to buy U.S. products.

“The United States cannot, & will not, become such a difficult place to deal with in terms of foreign countries buying our product, including for the always used National Security excuse, that our companies will be forced to leave in order to remain competitive,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

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