Aircraft maker Boeing is set to re-enter China’s aviation market after US President Donald Trump announced that China had agreed to buy 200 Boeing jets, the country’s first major order in nearly a decade.
Trump made the announcement after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, calling the deal part of a broader push to revive trade and business ties between the world’s two largest economies. Boeing later confirmed the deal, although it did not disclose the aircraft models, delivery schedule or financial details, according to Reuters.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the order could eventually increase to as many as 750 planes if relations and negotiations continue, according to Reuters. It is also reported that the proposed transaction could initially be worth between US$17 billion and US$19 billion, with the value likely to increase if future commitments include additional wide-body aircraft.
Boeing is regaining access to a key market after years of suspended Chinese orders
The deal is seen as a major breakthrough for Boeing, which has struggled to secure new Chinese orders since 2017 due to worsening trade tensions between the US and China, the prolonged 737 MAX crisis and growing competition from European rival Airbus. Both Reuters and the Azerbaijani publication AzerNews said China has largely shifted toward Airbus in recent years as Boeing’s position in the country has weakened.
Reuters reported that market expectations were higher ahead of the summit, with discussions earlier centered around a possible package of 500 aircraft. The final announcement of 200 jets disappointed some investors and sent Boeing shares down more than 4% in trading on Thursday.
Despite muted market reaction, the deal is seen as strategically important as China remains one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Reuters reported that Boeing and Airbus estimate China will need nearly 9,000 new planes by 2045 as demand for air travel continues to grow.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg accompanied Trump during his visit to Beijing, along with several US business leaders, including executives from GE Aerospace, Apple and NVIDIA. Reuters said the delegation aimed to secure trade deals and revive economic cooperation between Washington and Beijing after years of strained ties.
According to the Associated Press, Boeing called the visit a significant step toward reopening the Chinese market to orders for Boeing aircraft. The company also said further commitments beyond the original series of 200 aircraft could follow.
The plane announcement emerged as one of the clearest business outcomes of Trump’s meeting with Xi. Reuters reported that the broader summit also included discussions on tariffs, Taiwan, technology exports and geopolitical tensions, although few major political breakthroughs were publicly announced.
But for Boeing, the deal could signal the start of a renewed relationship with one of its most critical global markets after years of uncertainty and stalled sales.
