On April 23, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed that Chinese airlines have stopped receiving 50 new aircraft from the airline amid escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. This is considered a notable move, highlighting the impact of the current tariff policy on the international aviation industry.
Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Ortberg said the suspension of receiving the plane was a direct result of US tariff policies. He also affirmed that if this situation continues, Boeing will not "wait too long" but will find a way to transfer the number of aircraft to other customers around the world.
Boeing is expected to hand over about 50 aircraft to Chinese airlines this year, but this plan is facing the risk of having to be adjusted.
According to Bloomberg, Beijing has asked domestic airlines to temporarily stop purchasing aircraft and components from US manufacturers as a reaction to President Donald Trump's Trump administration's sharp increase in import tariffs on Chinese goods.
Although there has been no official statement from China, the move is seen as part of an increasingly tense trade confrontation between the two countries.
Once a key supplier to the Chinese aviation market, Boeing has up to 25% of total aircraft production transferred to airlines of this country. However, that share has declined significantly in recent years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean-related crisis of the 737 Max aircraft, and especially tariff policies between the US and China.
After entering his second term, President Trump imposed a record high import tax on Chinese goods, up to 145% and even 245% on some specific items. In response, China also applied a 125% tariff on goods from the US.
However, in the latest statement, Mr. Trump said he wanted to reach a "fair deal" with China, and pledged to reduce tariffs on goods from this country, even though it could not be reduced to zero. However, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the two sides have yet to have any official discussions on tariffs.
The current situation makes the future of cooperation between Boeing and Chinese airlines uncertain, while the plane maker is still trying to recover after many difficulties.
