US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 11 October limiting sales of its civil nuclear technology to China on the grounds that it could be diverted for military and other unauthorised purposes.

US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said: "The United States cannot ignore the national security implications of China's efforts to obtain nuclear technology outside of established processes of US-China civil nuclear cooperation." The decision was taken following a government policy review meeting led by the National Security Council which noted that Beijing is putting in efforts to obtain advanced technology, nuclear material and equipment from US companies.

Administration officials also argued that China is  "actively pursuing  advanced nuclear technology for diversion to military use in its third-generation nuclear power submarine, development of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and in strategic dual-use nuclear-powered platforms, such as small modular reactors and floating nuclear power plants deployable in the South China Sea”. The new policy will come into immediate effect and set the guidelines for all existing, pending and future technology transfers to China.

China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN) said on 13 October that its plans to use Chinese Hualong One technology at the planned Bradwell NPP in the UK would not be compromised by the new US ruling, noting the project did not use American technology. “We will continue to push forward with the new nuclear power project in England with our partners,” it said.