Beijing, May 13 - China-based airlines are set to resume taking deliveries of new Boeing aircraft following a temporary tariff truce between China and the United States. This breakthrough comes after a month-long suspension of deliveries, which was triggered by escalating trade tensions and retaliatory tariffs that had disrupted the flow of U.S.-made aircraft to one of Boeing’s largest markets. The decision to lift the ban is expected to provide immediate relief to Boeing, which has faced considerable challenges due to the trade dispute, while also enabling Chinese carriers to meet growing demand for air travel in the world’s second-largest economy.
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The suspension of Boeing deliveries began in April 2025, when China imposed a 125% tariff on U.S.-made goods, including aircraft, in response to the U.S. implementing 145% tariffs on most Chinese imports. These steep levies made Boeing planes prohibitively expensive for Chinese airlines, prompting Beijing to order its carriers to halt acceptance of new aircraft. As a result, Boeing was forced to repatriate several jets, including two intended for Xiamen Airlines, back to the United States. The company had planned to deliver approximately 50 aircraft to Chinese customers in 2025, representing a significant portion of its backlog of 130 unfilled commercial aircraft orders destined for China. The halt not only strained Boeing’s finances but also threatened its market share in a region projected to account for 20% of global aircraft demand over the next two decades.
The tariff truce, agreed upon in Geneva, marks a de-escalation in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Under the terms of the 90-day agreement, the U.S. has reduced its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China has lowered its duties on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. This reduction has alleviated the cost pressures that had priced Boeing jets out of the Chinese market. According to sources familiar with the matter, officials in Beijing have begun notifying domestic carriers and government agencies that deliveries of U.S.-made aircraft can resume, with airlines granted flexibility to organize delivery schedules on their own terms. This move is seen as a pragmatic step to stabilize bilateral trade relations and support the operational needs of Chinese airlines, which face domestic aircraft age restrictions and rising passenger demand.
For Boeing, the resumption of deliveries is a critical lifeline. The company, already grappling with financial losses and a recent workers’ strike, had warned that prolonged delivery halts could force it to redirect China-bound aircraft to other buyers, with interest already emerging from carriers in India, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. The lifting of the ban allows Boeing to maintain its foothold in China, where it competes with Airbus and China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC). However, uncertainties remain about the pace of deliveries, as Chinese airlines must navigate logistical and financial considerations to integrate new aircraft into their fleets. The tariff truce also has broader implications for the aerospace industry, which has historically benefited from a duty-free trading status. The temporary agreement underscores the fragility of global supply chains and the aviation sector’s vulnerability to trade disputes. While the truce provides a window for negotiations toward a more permanent resolution, analysts caution that the underlying tensions between the U.S. and China could resurface, potentially affecting future aircraft orders and deliveries. For now, the resumption of Boeing deliveries signals a cautious step toward restoring normalcy in one of the aviation industry’s most critical markets, offering a reprieve for both Boeing and China’s rapidly expanding airline sector.