On August 21 (local time), Bloomberg reported that American aircraft manufacturer Boeing is on the verge of signing a contract to sell up to 500 aircraft to China.
According to a source cited by the outlet, both parties are currently negotiating contract terms, including aircraft models, quantities, and delivery schedules. Chinese authorities have begun discussions with domestic airlines regarding the number of Boeing aircraft needed. Although no official announcement has been made yet, the source added that the order is expected to be similar in scale to China's previous order of 500 aircraft from Airbus. Bloomberg interpreted this as a sign that Chinese authorities are preparing for a large-scale order.
Bloomberg projected that this deal could become a key element of the US-China trade agreement and potentially end Boeing's sales drought, which has persisted since 2017. Due to the ongoing US-China trade war, Boeing has lost ground in the Chinese market to Airbus. The last major deal between China and Boeing was in November 2017, when then-US President Donald Trump visited China and signed a contract for 300 aircraft. According to Boeing's website, the company has received only 30 orders from Chinese airlines and leasing companies since 2019.
This deal also offers significant advantages for China. With both Boeing and Airbus having essentially sold out their production slots through the 2030s, China would be able to secure future aircraft deliveries in advance. Experts believe that Boeing may have room to adjust its delivery schedule to accommodate such a strategic customer.
The sale of Boeing aircraft has become a key factor in trade negotiations since President Trump returned to the White House. After Qatar signed an economic cooperation agreement with the US, it placed an order for Boeing aircraft. The UK, Japan, and Indonesia also agreed to purchase a certain number of Boeing planes as part of their respective trade agreements.
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