China resumes Boeing plane deliveries amid US trade talks

• Published On: 13 May 2025 at 16:48

China has lifted its ban on domestic airlines accepting Boeing aircraft deliveries, indicating a thaw in trade tensions with the United States, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

The report cited sources familiar with the situation.

The decision follows an agreement between Washington and Beijing to temporarily reduce steep reciprocal tariffs of more than 100%, announced after weekend talks in Geneva.

According to Bloomberg, Chinese officials began informing domestic carriers and government agencies this week that deliveries of US-made aircraft could resume.

The move reverses a trade-related import restriction that had halted Boeing deliveries, with at least three jets returning to the United States from Boeing's China delivery centre last month.

The import ban, which was announced a month ago, was part of a growing trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Boeing previously stated that Chinese customers would not take delivery of new planes due to tariffs, prompting the company to consider reselling dozens of aircraft.

The tariff reduction, which is effective for 90 days of negotiations, is intended to encourage further trade discussions.

Neither Boeing nor China's Civil Aviation Administration responded to the report.

Senior industry sources told Reuters that they were unaware of formal directives prohibiting Boeing deliveries, and Beijing has not publicly explained the previous suspension.

The resumption of deliveries represents a significant development for Boeing, which has struggled in the Chinese market due to geopolitical and trade tensions.