China lifts Boeing ban as deal eases trade tensions: report



China has lifted its month-long ban on Boeing deliveries following the nation’s trade truce with the White House, according to a report.

Beijing officials have told domestic carriers and government agencies that they can resume deliveries of US-made aircraft, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Chinese airlines can determine when to resume deliveries on their own timing and terms, a source told the outlet.

A Boeing 737 Max 8 that was returned by a Chinese customer to the manufacturer. REUTERS

Boeing did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

The announcement comes a day after world’s two largest economies ratcheted down trade tensions with a deal that temporarily slashed US tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from 145%, and China lowered its rates on the US to 10% from 125%.

The truce is set to last for 90 days as the US and China continue trade negotiations.

When China imposed a 125% levy on the US last month, it effectively priced Boeing out of the market, though it doubled down and placed a ban on Boeing deliveries across the nation.

It was a substantial loss for Boeing, whose 737 Max shipments to China last year accounted for a fifth of its total annual deliveries, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. 

While the ban has been lifted, it’s unclear how soon deliveries can make their way to China after several jets were refused by Chinese customers and flown back to the US.

Boeing had warned it was looking to sell the failed deliveries to buyers from other nations like India, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Several Boeing jets were refused by Chinese customers and sent back to the US. REUTERS

But it’s preferable for Boeing to avoid the hunt for new customers, which could take time and money, and instead make its expected 50 jet deliveries to Chinese customers this year.

Nearly a quarter of Boeing’s output was sent to China in 2018, but the planemaker hasn’t received a major order from the nation in years as it ended up snagged in the middle of trade tensions.

Over the past few years, Boeing has also lost out on deliveries due to reputation damage, with China becoming the first nation to ground the 737 Max in 2019 after two deadly crashes.

A Boeing 737 Max being assembled at a facility in Washington. via REUTERS

Then, last January, a door plug blew out of a Boeing 737 Max jet mid-flight, bringing more regulatory scrutiny upon the planemaker.

It’s not the only time Boeing has found itself caught up in trade deals. 

The UK is expected to buy $10 billion worth of Boeing planes as part of its tariff pact with the White House, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.



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