China Lifts Ban on Boeing Deliveries Following U.S.-China Trade Truce

Following a recent trade truce between the United States and China, Bloomberg News reported that China has lifted its ban on domestic airlines accepting deliveries of Boeing aircraft. This move came after both nations agreed to reduce steep tariffs for a 90-day period, effectively pausing the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

According to Bloomberg, officials in Beijing have started informing domestic airlines and relevant government bodies that the delivery of aircraft manufactured in the U.S. can now resume. Boeing, however, declined to comment on the development, and China’s Civil Aviation Administration did not provide an immediate response. The ban, initially imposed due to tariffs, had significantly impacted aircraft deliveries. In April, Boeing stated that several of its Chinese customers had refused to accept deliveries of new planes because of the high tariffs, forcing the company to consider reselling those aircraft to other buyers.

The agreement reached on Monday in Geneva between Washington and Beijing entails a 90-day negotiation window during which reciprocal tariffs—some of which were over 100%—will be slashed. The aim is to create space for further negotiations and ease tensions between the two economic powers.

China remains a vital market for Boeing, representing approximately 10% of its commercial order backlog. The country is also one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. During Boeing's first-quarter earnings call, company executives revealed that 50 aircraft were scheduled for delivery to Chinese carriers this year, with 41 already in production or completed.

Although Boeing had acknowledged interest from other airlines in taking over the aircraft originally designated for Chinese customers, the company hesitated to reallocate those planes. A key obstacle was aircraft seating, as the seats had been specifically selected and purchased by Chinese airlines, making it difficult to repurpose the aircraft without significant modifications.

Boeing also confirmed that Chinese clients are expected to accept 25 of the 30 remaining 737 MAX jets that were built before 2023 but had not yet been delivered. Additionally, at least four 777 freighter aircraft are currently under production for Chinese carriers. This information was corroborated by an industry insider and the aircraft tracking database, Aviation Flights Group.

Two weeks ago, Beijing acknowledged the negative impact of U.S.-imposed tariffs on both Chinese airlines and Boeing. Even prior to Monday’s agreement, China had already issued some exemptions on aerospace components like engines and landing gear, which allowed for limited deliveries and maintenance operations despite the broader trade restrictions.

The resumption of Boeing deliveries marks a significant shift in U.S.–China trade relations, particularly in the high-stakes aerospace sector. With ongoing negotiations and a temporary easing of tariffs, both sides are taking cautious steps toward stabilizing their economic relationship, especially in areas where cooperation is mutually beneficial. However, the long-term future of these agreements will depend on the success of continued diplomatic efforts during the 90-day negotiation window.