Boeing Co. is reportedly in talks with Beijing for a potentially massive deal involving up to 500 aircraft, as revealed by sources to Bloomberg. If successful, this deal could put an end to the years-long sales stagnation since Trump’s last visit to China in 2017.
The fate of this order still hinges on whether the US and China can ease trade tensions. While both sides are still negotiating details such as aircraft models, quantities, and delivery schedules, Beijing has begun inquiring about the procurement needs of major domestic airlines.
Sources indicate that the scale of this Boeing order is comparable to a potential deal with Airbus SE for up to 500 aircraft that China had discussed previously, though the latter has not been formally announced.
Currently, Boeing is focusing negotiations on its 737 Max series single-aisle aircraft.
Since Trump returned to the White House in February 2025, the US has consistently used high-value aircraft orders as a diplomatic leverage to balance trade deficits and promote strategic partnerships. In recent months, the US and China have engaged in multiple rounds of talks on tariffs and trade.