Exclusive-US suspends licenses to ship nuclear plant parts to China, sources say
(Reuters) -The U.S. in recent days suspended licenses for nuclear equipment suppliers to sell to China's power plants, according to four people familiar with the matter, as the two countries engage in a damaging trade war.
The suspensions were issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the people said, and affect export licenses for parts and equipment used with nuclear power plants.
Nuclear equipment suppliers are among a wide range of companies whose sales have been restricted over the past two weeks as the U.S.-China trade war shifted from negotiating tariffs to throttling each other's supply chains. It is unclear whether a Thursday call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would affect the suspensions.
The U.S. and China agreed on May 12 to roll back triple digit, tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, but the truce between the two biggest economies quickly went south, with the U.S. claiming China reneged on terms related to rare earth elements, and China accusing the U.S. of "abusing export control measures" by warning that using Huawei Ascend AI chips anywhere in the world violated U.S. export controls. After Thursday's call, further talks on key issues were expected.
The U.S. Department of Commerce did not respond to a request for comment on the nuclear equipment restrictions. On May 28, a spokesperson said the department was reviewing exports of strategic significance to China.
"In some cases, Commerce has suspended existing export licenses or imposed additional license requirements while the review is pending," the spokesperson said in a statement. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
U.S. nuclear equipment suppliers include Westinghouse and Emerson.
Westinghouse, whose technology is used in over 400 nuclear reactors around the world, and Emerson, which provides measurement and other tools for the nuclear industry, did not respond to requests for comment.
The suspensions affect business worth hundreds of millions of dollars, two of the sources said.
They also coincide with Chinese restrictions on critical metals threatening supply chains for manufacturers worldwide, especially America's Big Three automakers.
Reuters could not determine whether the new restrictions were tied to the trade war, or if and how quickly they might be reinstated. Department of Commerce export licenses typically run for four years and include authorized quantities and values.
But many new restrictions on exports to China have been imposed in the last two weeks, according to sources, and include license requirements for a hydraulic fluids supplier for sales to China.
Other license suspensions went to GE Aerospace for jet engines for China's COMAC aircraft, sources said.
The U.S. also now requires licenses to ship ethane to China, as Reuters reported first last week. Houston-based Enterprise Product Partners said Wednesday that its emergency requests to complete three proposed cargoes of ethane to China, totaling some 2.2 million barrels, had not been granted.
Enterprise said a May 23 requirement for a license to sell butane to China, in addition to the ethane, was subsequently withdrawn. Dallas-based Energy Transfer said it was notified on Tuesday about the new ethane licensing requirement, and planned to apply and file for an emergency authorization.
Other sectors that have been hit with new restrictions include companies that sell electronic design automation software such as Cadence Design Systems.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Business Insider
7 minutes ago
- Business Insider
I'm a matchmaker for the uber-wealthy who charges up to $500,000. Sometimes I conduct over 100 interviews for 1 date.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Donnelly, a Dallas-based matchmaker for wealthy individuals. It's been edited for length and clarity. I work with some of the world's most influential people to help them find that compatible partner. My sorority sister is married through me, and the person who lived across the street from me when I was eight years old is married through me. It's such a rewarding career. Out of college, I worked for a company that matched people for dating. It was a really high volume of people, like thousands, at a lower price point, and we were only matching people inside that service. But I wanted to be able to meet the client, get to know them, and search all over for the right fit. So I said, if I do this again, it should be for fewer clients at a higher price point to deliver exceptional results. I've been matchmaking specifically for wealthier clients for the past 10 years. Usually, around 30 to 40% of my month is spent traveling for work. I'm able to go search and hop on a plane to meet with a candidate and screen them. I can do things now that I never was able to do in the previous company. My network and reputation built my clientele. One of my first clients was a well-known billionaire, and then he started referring other people directly to me. My clients have incredibly high expectations, but I do too. My clients often say, "Jennifer, I think you might be even more selective than I am." For clients, my rates are for a 1-year period. They start at $150,000, which is generally for a search within a certain city. Then $250,000 is typically for a whole state, and at $500,000, we do a nationwide search. We gauge the rate based on the market and size. The candidates never pay. When I initially meet a prospective client, we go through at least two interviews, if not three. My clients are understandably very private, so I have to get them comfortable being vulnerable because I can only be as good as they allow me to be. I'll be a lot more effective the more information I have. Often, wealthy men are used to people telling them what they want to hear. I don't do that. This is about being effective and having a successful outcome. And oftentimes that requires a level of honesty that somebody hasn't presented to them before. Sometimes what people want and what they need is different. "Well, I want her to have an incredible career, to be a great mom, to be able to travel at a moment's notice because I've got a plane." And how can all of those things fit? Let's talk about what really matters in the relationship. When we start, I explain it might take up to six weeks. But if we're at six weeks, and I have not found the person, I'm not going to just put somebody in front of them. I'll just keep looking. We create strategy plans for each client. We create a profile of what we envision for that client, and then we'll say, "Okay, how are we going to find people like this?" and then we'll start working through our network. The good thing is we're incredibly well-connected. It would be highly unusual if there was a candidate we wanted that I couldn't get through somebody I know. It's important that they truly want a relationship. I always ask candidates, "Are you dating anybody? Does anybody think they're dating you? You could end up married; are you ready for that?" There's other matchmakers that can create dates. I'm really trying to create relationships. We'll conduct sometimes over 100 interviews before a client goes on one date. We want to make sure this isn't a waste of time for the client or the candidate; we would like to think we're matching for both people. As far as dates go, it can be as simple as dinner to something much more elaborate. The client can decide if they'd like to help plan it, or leave it to us or have their assistants plan it. I love attending the weddings of couples I've matched. That's the prize for me. It's like, OK, I did it, this is why I'm in this profession. But oftentimes the couple will tell me at their wedding, "Hey, please don't mention you're a matchmaker. Just say you're a 'consultant.'"


Business Upturn
25 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Nibe signs Technical Collaboration Agreement with Israel's Elbit Systems for PULS rocket system
Nibe Limited has officially entered into a technical collaboration agreement with Israel-based defence technology firm Elbit Systems Land Limited. Signed on July 26, 2025, the agreement focuses on the transfer of license and technology for the Precise & Universal Launch System (PULS), a high-range artillery rocket system. Under this agreement, Elbit will provide Nibe with the necessary know-how and licensing rights to manufacture and assemble the PULS system in India. The system is designed for long-range precision targeting, capable of engaging threats at distances up to 300 kilometers. The collaboration aims to establish a local manufacturing setup for PULS in India, allowing Nibe to take on responsibilities for development, assembly, and integration. The financial terms of the agreement are expected to be finalized within 45 days from the signing date. This is a purely international partnership between two independent entities, with no related party transaction involved. Neither Nibe's promoter group nor its affiliates have any stake or interest in Elbit Systems Land Limited. The agreement aligns with the regulatory requirements under SEBI's disclosure norms. With this development, Nibe Limited expands its presence in the defence manufacturing sector by bringing advanced rocket system capabilities to the domestic market through technology collaboration with a global player. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at


San Francisco Chronicle
36 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Taiwan votes to decide whether to oust lawmakers from China-friendly party in closely watched poll
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese voted in a recall election Saturday to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, a vote that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island's legislature. The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year's presidential election, but the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and the smaller Taiwan People's Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc. Those who support removing the 24 lawmakers are angry that the KMT and its allies have blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget, and passed controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China, which considers the island its own territory. The opposition parties' actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the island's democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing similar votes on Aug. 23. But the KMT alleged the ruling party was resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwan's democratic system. The KMT holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT lawmakers would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win the by-elections, which must be held within three months of the announcement of results. For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favor of it, and the total number of supporters must exceed those voting against. The poll closed at 4 p.m. local time, with preliminary results expected on Saturday night. Taiwan's Central Election Commission will announce the official results on Aug. 1. The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favoring improved ties with Beijing. Critics accuse China-friendly politicians of compromising Taiwan and take issue with their meetings with mainland Chinese politicians. But these Taiwanese politicians claim their connections are vital for dialogue given Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. When asked about the recall election, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in June that since the administration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te came into power, it has sought to achieve 'one-party dominance' and practiced dictatorship under the guise of democracy, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The office is a branch of China's ruling Communist Party government, which itself maintains a strict one-party rule. Zhu said that Lai's government has spared no effort in suppressing opposition parties and those who supported the development of cross-strait relations. ____ Leung reported from Hong Kong.