A major aircraft agreement between Boeing and China has moved forward after years of trade tensions and delivery restrictions. The US aerospace giant confirmed on Friday that China has committed to purchasing 200 aircraft during a recent visit by US President Donald Trump to Beijing.
According to Boeing, the agreement marks an important step in reopening the Chinese aviation market for the company. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg was also part of the US delegation that visited China during the talks.
In a statement, Boeing said the initial commitment includes 200 aircraft. The company also expects more orders to follow in the future. However, Boeing did not reveal which aircraft models were included in the agreement.
The deal could become much larger in the coming years. President Trump said China had also promised a possible future order of 750 aircraft if the first phase is successful. He described the agreement as important for American jobs and manufacturing.
Reports in US media claimed that the possible expanded deal may include hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, along with larger Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 777 jets.
China has remained one of the most important aviation markets in the world. Boeing estimates that nearly half of global aircraft demand over the next two decades will come from China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The last major Boeing order from China came in 2017. At that time, China agreed to buy 300 aircraft during Trump’s earlier visit to Beijing. That agreement was valued at around $37 billion.
Relations between Boeing and China became difficult after the 737 MAX crisis. The aircraft was grounded worldwide after two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. China was the final country to approve the aircraft’s return to service in 2023.
Chinese authorities had also suspended Boeing deliveries in 2019. Deliveries later resumed gradually, including approvals for 787 Dreamliners and 737 MAX aircraft.
The company was also affected by the recent trade dispute between China and the United States. Beijing had temporarily blocked Chinese airlines from receiving Boeing jets during the tariff conflict.
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Following a trade truce reached late last year, Boeing has now resumed normal business activity with Chinese customers. The company currently holds more than 6,800 aircraft orders worldwide, with an estimated value of around $600 billion.
