The Trump administration has reportedly suspended licenses for U.S. nuclear equipment suppliers to sell to China as trade tensions escalate between the two largest economies in the world, Reuters reported Friday.
The U.S. Department of Commerce reportedly halted licenses for exports to China this week for parts and equipment used to build nuclear power plants, according to Reuters, which cited four anonymous sources familiar with the situation. The reported move follows previous U.S. export restrictions targeting China’s access to key goods — including machine tools, chip design software, butane and aviation equipment — as trade frictions have intensified between Beijing and Washington.
On May 12, the White House announced that the deal had been reached with China to reduce tariffs imposed by both countries for a period of 90 days while a more permanent deal was negotiated. However, the deal quickly unraveled, with both sides accusing the other of violating its terms.
“I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!!” President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on May 30. “The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”
The Commerce Department told Reuters in late May that it is reviewing exports of strategically significant items to China, stating that “Commerce has suspended existing export licenses or imposed additional license requirements while the review is pending” in some cases.
The reported suspension will affect U.S. nuclear equipment suppliers such as Westinghouse and Emerson, potentially disrupting business to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, Reuters reported.
“There are no sanctions or pressure that can block the pace of China’s development and progress, no bullying or coercion that can shake China’s determination to achieve self-sufficiency,” China’s foreign ministry told Reuters in late May regarding the export restrictions in place at the time.
In April, China announced export controls on several rare earth elements used in weapons, cars, and other high-tech products. U.S. manufacturers have warned that the restrictions could disrupt crucial supply chains.
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone Thursday, which Trump said “resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries.” The president announced on Friday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with representatives from China in London on Monday for renewed trade discussions.
Neither the Commerce Department nor the White House responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
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