President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday barred Chinese passenger carriers from flying to the US starting on June 16 as it pressures Beijing to let US air carriers resume flights amid simmering tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The move, announced by the US department of transportation, penalises China for failing to comply with an existing agreement on flights between the two countries. US-Chinese relations have soured in recent months amid tensions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing’s move to impose new national security legislation for Hong Kong.
The order applies to Air China, China Eastern Airlines Corp, China Southern Airlines Co and Hainan Airlines Holding Co, as well as smaller Sichuan Airlines Co and Xiamen Airlines Co.
