China Halts Boeing Jet Purchases, Escalating U.S. Trade War Tensions
China has reportedly directed its airlines to stop taking new Boeing jets—one of the most dramatic steps yet in its intensifying tariff conflict with the U.S. The move follows Beijing’s decision to impose a 125% levy on American goods, retaliating for President Donald Trump’s own 145% duties on Chinese imports. Officials are also urging carriers to suspend purchases of U.S.-made airplane parts, posing a serious challenge to Boeing’s future sales and supply chains.
Shares of the aerospace giant have tumbled over concerns that new tariffs—and talk of halting deliveries—will cut into a critical market. Michael O’Leary of Ryanair even hinted at delaying Boeing orders if trade tensions push costs higher. Meanwhile, rival Airbus says it’s also grappling with disruptions from American suppliers, illustrating how global manufacturing lines are at the mercy of shifting U.S.-China relations.
On a day when Trump teased possible relief for the auto industry, the airline sector faces more immediate fallout. Beijing is reportedly eyeing measures to cushion its state-owned carriers, which might otherwise bear the brunt of pricier U.S. imports. Analysts worry this standoff will amplify price shocks for aircraft buyers and put pressure on companies from seat-makers to engine suppliers, all while the broader trade war continues to roil financial markets.
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