Boeing has found itself in hot water following President Donald Trump’s tariff war against China. The Chinese company reportedly set to purchase fifty planes from Boeing has bowed out of the deal following Trump’s escalating tariff war against China.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said Wednesday that he doesn’t expect the U.S. trade war with China to forestall the company’s financial recovery, nor prevent it from reaching aircraft delivery targets with Chinese airlines now refusing to accept Boeing planes.
However, it seems that Trump may be seriously considering playing ball with China again. President Trump may trim his 145% Chinese tariffs on non‑strategic items by 50–60% and completely eliminate them on key goods over five years — provided China reciprocates.
Speaking on CNBC, Ortberg said that Boeing had three airliners in China ready for delivery but brought two of them back to Seattle so far because the Chinese airlines that ordered the planes “stopped taking delivery of aircraft due to the tariff environment.”
READ: Five key repercussions of Trump’s new tariff plan (April 3, 2025)
Ortberg added that it was an unfortunate situation, but that they have many customers who want near-term deliveries, so they are planning to redirect the supply to the stable demand. He also said during a conference call with analysts that they were not going to continue to build aircraft for customers who will not take them.
China currently accounts for about 10% of an order backlog worth $500 billion that Boeing expects will take into the next decade to clear, Chief Financial Officer Brian West said.
What is Boeing?
Boeing is a major American aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures, and sells aircraft, rockets, satellites, and related technologies worldwide. Founded in 1916 and now headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Boeing is one of the largest aerospace firms globally. The company operates through several divisions, including Commercial Airplanes, Defense, Space & Security, and Boeing Global Services. It is well known for producing commercial jetliners such as the 737, 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
In addition to commercial aircraft, Boeing is a key supplier of military equipment, including fighter jets, helicopters, missiles, and space vehicles like the Space Launch System and Starliner capsule. Boeing is a major player in both government and commercial aerospace sectors, competing closely with European rival Airbus.
While the company has achieved many technological advancements, it has also faced challenges, including safety issues with its 737 MAX aircraft. Boeing continues to shape global aviation and space exploration.