U.S. lifts restrictions on ethane exports to China

(ECNS) – The U.S. government has lifted a short-lived restriction on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume in a move that signals progress in stabilizing trade relations between the two countries, according to Reuters.

The U.S. Commerce Department informed Enterprise Products Partners, Energy Transfer, as well as other ethane traders last week they could load ethane onto vessels destined for China but not unload their cargo without authorization on arrival.

About half of all U.S. ethane exports head to China, with a halt in shipments set to hurt U.S. producers as well as Chinese petrochemical manufacturers. At least eight vessels were heading to China on Wednesday, after they had stalled along the U.S. Gulf Coast in June due to the curbs.

While the U.S. Commerce Department and the White House declined to comment, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on June 27 that "China will review and approve export applications for controlled items that meet the required criteria, while the United States will lift a series of restrictive measures previously imposed on China."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said during a press conference that China hopes the United States would leverage the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism further, enhance mutual understanding, reduce misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation to promote healthy, stable and sustainable development of ties.

The initial restrictions were introduced amid heightened concerns over the transfer of dual-use technologies and broader geopolitical tensions, though the latest move suggests a thaw in trade negotiations.

As of Wednesday, all eight vessels were once again en route to Chinese ports, a development welcomed by industry stakeholders anticipating a rebound in trans-Pacific petrochemical trade.

（By Li Yan）