After weeks of stagnation, Chinese airlines are allowed to resume taking delivery of Boeing aircraft. According to people familiar with the matter, Beijing has lifted the informal delivery ban that was in place since early April. The decision comes just a few days after the surprising tariff agreement between the US and China – an important signal for the struggling US aircraft manufacturer.
Around 50 planes were originally scheduled to be delivered to Chinese customers this year. The clearance eliminates the need for Boeing to carry out complex resales and interim storages that were already considered. Some of the jets had been flown back to the USA in the meantime, after Chinese buyers had rejected them.
The trade relaxation came unexpectedly. Over the weekend, both sides announced massive tariff reductions: the US reduced its import duties on Chinese products from a cumulative 145 percent to 30 percent, and China, in return, lowered its tariffs on US goods to 10 percent. At the same time, the counter-sanctions imposed by Beijing since April 2 – including the blockade of aircraft deliveries – were largely withdrawn.
Boeing benefits immediately, even though it remains unclear how quickly the handovers will actually occur. According to insider reports, Chinese airlines have been given the green light, but the exact schedule is at their discretion. Official confirmations from the Chinese aviation authority or Boeing are still pending.
The fact that Boeing ended up in this situation was not solely due to the trade conflict. The brand had already lost trust in China: After two crashes, the 737 Max model was the first to be grounded by Beijing in 2019. Added to this were quality issues that reached their peak with a spectacular incident in early 2024.
At the same time, Airbus strategically exploited the gap. Due to a lack of new major orders from China in recent years, the European competitor was able to expand its position. However, the fact that Boeing is now coming back into play shows that economic pragmatism still carries weight in Beijing – especially given the forecast that China will account for around 20 percent of global aircraft demand in the next 20 years.
The political dimension remains.
