Seattle, April 20 - Boeing is facing new challenges due to growing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. A Boeing 737 MAX jet, which was supposed to be delivered to a Chinese airline, was returned to the U.S. on April 18, 2025, as shown by flight tracking data. Originally, this plane was at Boeing’s center in Zhoushan, near Shanghai, for final interior work and painting before being handed over to the airline. The plane's unexpected departure to Guam, a usual stopover before heading to Seattle, indicates major disruptions in Boeing’s China operations amidst the ongoing tariff conflict.
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This conflict began when U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Chinese goods on April 2, 2025, with rates as high as 145%. In retaliation, China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%, making American-made aircraft and parts a lot more expensive. Before these tariffs, the aerospace industry enjoyed duty-free trade. Boeing significantly relies on the Chinese market, as China is projected to demand 20% of the world’s aircraft within the next two decades. Previously, about one-quarter of Boeing's deliveries went to China, but this has decreased due to past trade issues, the 737 MAX crisis, and COVID-19.
The plane, marked with Xiamen Airlines livery, is majority-owned by China Southern. It was one of four 737 MAX planes sent to Zhoushan since March, reflecting Boeing’s expectation of normal business before the tariff announcement. However, China reportedly instructed its airlines to stop receiving Boeing jets and U.S. parts, although no formal ban has been declared. The 125% tariff effectively blocks imports, and Boeing, along with its suppliers, now anticipates deliveries to China will be paused indefinitely. Although Boeing considered storing planes in bonded facilities to avoid tariffs, the decision to return this plane highlights the severity of the trade conflict.
Boeing opened the Zhoushan facility in 2018 to bolster its position in China’s rapidly growing aviation market, in contrast to Airbus, which manufactures full aircraft there. Boeing has 130 unfilled orders for Chinese airlines and leasing companies, and a significant portion of over 760 unnamed orders is likely intended for China. The tariff war impacts not only new deliveries but could also increase maintenance costs for Boeing-heavy fleets in China, though some U.S. suppliers and a Chinese repair shop report no clear restrictions on parts shipments. The broader impact is significant. Changing tariffs could put many aircraft deliveries on hold, with some airline CEOs choosing to delay rather than pay extra costs. While analysts believe a short-term halt might not impact Boeing severely, given Airbus’s limited capacity and Boeing’s ability to redirect planes elsewhere, losing market share in China long-term could favor Airbus and China’s COMAC. As the U.S. and China navigate this standoff, with Trump hinting at a possible resolution, the aerospace industry braces for ongoing uncertainty, risking billions in contracts and global supply chains.