BEIJING/WASHINGTON, April 15 – China has ordered its airlines to suspend deliveries of aircraft from U.S. aviation giant Boeing, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, as trade tensions between Beijing and Washington continue to escalate under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The move comes as part of Beijing’s broader response to a growing tariff war, which has seen both countries impose steep duties on each other’s exports. The United States is currently levying tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese imports, while China has retaliated with duties of up to 125%.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said Chinese authorities had also instructed domestic carriers to halt the purchase of aircraft-related equipment and parts from U.S. firms. The government is reportedly considering financial assistance for airlines leasing Boeing jets who may be affected by rising costs.
AFP said it had reached out to Boeing and China’s foreign ministry for comment. There has been no immediate official confirmation from either party.
The trade standoff has intensified since Trump took office, with both sides engaging in a series of tit-for-tat tariff hikes. Beijing has condemned Washington’s actions as unlawful “bullying” and dismissed further negotiations under the current terms as fruitless. The suspension of Boeing deliveries could have significant implications for the American aerospace sector, particularly as China remains one of Boeing’s largest international markets.
U.S. officials last week announced limited exemptions from the most recent round of tariffs for certain high-tech goods, including smartphones, semiconductors, and computers. However, no relief was extended to aerospace products or major transportation-related imports. Markets have reacted nervously to the deteriorating relationship between the world’s two largest economies, with analysts warning of long-term disruptions to global supply chains and investor confidence.
