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Monday, April 21, 2025
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Boeing Jet Bound for China Sent Back to United States Amid Tariff Tensions

This Week

A Boeing jet originally built for China’s Xiamen Airlines flew back to the United States (US) on 20 April, caught in the crossfire of rising trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. 

The aircraft, still painted in Xiamen’s colors, landed in Seattle on Sunday evening after an 8,000-km journey from Boeing’s Zhoushan facility in China, making fuel stops in Guam and Hawaii.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on 15 April that Chinese airlines must stop placing new orders for Boeing jets from the US. 

Industry sources confirmed to Reuters that this directive is direct retaliation for the Trump administration’s recent imposition of tariffs reaching up to 145 percent on Chinese products.

The aviation industry now finds itself at the center of the ongoing trade conflict that has seen both nations implementing retaliatory measures against each other’s exports.

Instead of moving forward with deliveries, China asked its airlines to pause purchases of American-made aviation parts and equipment. Since China represents roughly 20 percent of projected global aircraft demand over the next two decades, this decision puts significant pressure on Boeing’s international business.

Boeing, as one of America’s largest exporters, stands to face substantial financial implications from China’s decision.

The American company had over 130 planes lined up for delivery to Chinese airlines and leasing companies as of March. 

Now, those deals face delays or cancellations. Neither Boeing nor Xiamen Airlines has confirmed who initiated the jet’s return.

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