The trade tensions between the United States and China have escalated as Beijing has reportedly instructed its airlines to stop purchasing aircraft, spare parts, and equipment from Boeing, a major American aerospace manufacturer.
This move comes in retaliation to the recent hike in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, which has now reached 145%. In response, China has imposed tariffs of 125%.
The decision impacts major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern. According to The Air Current, two Boeing 737 MAX planes originally destined for Xiamen Air were returned to Boeing’s Seattle facility. These aircraft had completed final assembly in Zhoushan but were never delivered to the customer.
The planes, which had arrived in China in March, were flown back to the United States on April 19 and 21, as tracked by Flightradar24. Similarly, Juneyao Airlines rejected a Boeing 787-9. Before the restrictions, Boeing had roughly 130 aircraft orders from Chinese carriers, including 103 737 MAX units for China Southern Airlines.
Despite the setback, Boeing is not expected to face a critical situation. In the first quarter of 2025, Boeing received nearly 4,800 orders for its 737 MAX model, making up over 75% of the company’s total orders. Airlines from India and Malaysia have expressed strong interest in the aircraft and are already in discussions with the company.
