The United States "tariff stick" that saw newly-manufactured aircraft returned to the US has hurt both Chinese carriers and Boeing, according to an April 29 press release from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry declared that the rapid ramping up of tariffs "has severely impacted the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain, disrupting the international air transport market, and many companies have been unable to carry out normal trade and investment activities. China's relevant airlines and Boeing have suffered greatly."
Earlier in April, China slapped a 125% on US imports after the US imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports. The dispute has seen deliveries of new Boeing-made aircraft to Chinese airlines stop and some aircraft already in China awaiting final delivery head back to the US.
"China has made it clear more than that there is no winner in a tariff war or a trade war," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said earlier this week. "This tariff war is launched by the US."
The ch-aviation fleets module reveals that 14 Chinese airlines have a combined 137 aircraft on order at Boeing. Last week, CEO Kelly Ortberg told an earnings call that Boeing had planned to deliver around 50 aircraft to Chinese customers over the remainder of 2025.
