Chinese investment in U.S. aviation

In: [Research report] 1755-USCC

In: Research report RR-1755-USCC

Abstract

"This report assesses Chinese investment in U.S. aviation from 2005 to 2016. It provides context in China's demand for aviation products and aviation industrial policies, while assessing technology transfers and impact on U.S. competitiveness. Since 2005, Chinese companies have steadily increased investment in U.S. aviation by acquiring, merging, or establishing joint ventures with more than a dozen U.S. aviation companies without directly running afoul of U.S. regulation. The combination of Chinese government policy to become globally competitive in aviation and the availability of capital drives these investments, but they are constrained by U.S. government foreign investment and export laws as well as classic business concerns about return on investment. While China has unambiguous government policies supporting the development of a globally competitive aviation industry, Chinese investment in U.S. aviation over the past decade has primarily involved lower-technology general aviation manufacturers that do not affect U.S. competitiveness. Chinese demand for large commercial aircraft may be as much as one-fifth of global demand, but the duopoly nature of global aviation also creates barriers to China's goal of developing a globally competitive commercial aircraft manufacturer, as any manufacturer of a new commercial aircraft struggles to achieve efficiencies of scale." - Publisher's description