Boeing nears landmark deal to sell 500 jets to China amid trade talks

Boeing Co. is moving closer to finalizing a massive aircraft deal with China, potentially involving the sale of up to 500 planes, according to sources familiar with the matter. If completed, the transaction would mark the end of a years-long sales freeze that dates back to US President Donald Trump’s 2017 visit to Beijing.

Talks between Boeing and Chinese authorities are still ongoing, with discussions focused on the mix of aircraft types, quantities, and delivery schedules. One source, requesting anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions, cautioned that the deal remains contingent on easing trade tensions between the US and China — and could still collapse, Bloomberg reports.

Chinese officials have already begun consulting domestic airlines on their aircraft needs. The potential order is expected to mirror a similarly sized deal China is negotiating with European rival Airbus SE, which could also involve up to 500 aircraft, though it has not yet been publicly disclosed.

The Boeing deal is likely to be a centerpiece of a broader trade agreement that would benefit both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. A similar announcement was nearly made in 2023 during a summit in San Francisco between then-President Joe Biden and Xi, but the talks ended without a final agreement.

Further complicating the talks is a recent leadership change at Boeing China. Alvin Liu, the company’s top executive in the country and a fluent Mandarin speaker, left the role in recent weeks. Carol Shen has been appointed interim president, people familiar with the matter said. Boeing declined to comment on the prospective deal or the management reshuffle.

Aircraft orders have been central to US-China trade diplomacy, particularly under Trump’s new term in office. China, facing limited delivery slots from both Boeing and Airbus — which are largely sold out into the 2030s — is eager to lock in aircraft to support its rapidly expanding aviation sector.

“We certainly hope that there’s an opportunity for some additional orders in the next year with China,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in January.

The company’s last major Chinese deal came in 2017, comprising orders and commitments for 300 aircraft valued at $37 billion.

By Vafa Guliyeva