U.S. President Donald Trump has said that China has agreed to purchase 200 aircraft from Boeing, in what would be the first major order for the U.S. manufacturer from the Chinese market in nearly a decade. Trump made the remarks in an interview with Fox News during his official visit to China for talks with President Xi Jinping.
According to Trump, the deal involves “large” aircraft, though he did not specify the models or delivery timeline. He added that Boeing had initially sought an order for 150 jets but ultimately reached 200 units, describing the agreement as a significant boost for U.S. manufacturing jobs.
The announcement comes amid a broader effort by Washington and Beijing to frame a new phase of “mutually beneficial cooperation,” which also includes discussions on advanced semiconductor trade and agricultural products. While no details have been released by Boeing or Chinese authorities, the prospective order would mark a notable reopening of the Chinese market to Boeing’s commercial fleet after years of limited activity.
Financial markets reacted cautiously. Despite the headline figure of 200 aircraft, Boeing shares fell in early trading, as investors weighed the lack of clarity on the composition and timing of the potential order.