Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has revealed that China returned three planes it had ordered from the company due to escalating trade tensions between the US and China.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ortberg said two planes had already been returned, and another would follow. He added that 50 more planes were due to go to China this year, but customers had indicated they would not take delivery.
The trade tensions have led to the US imposing 145% tariffs on imports from China, while China has retaliated with a 125% tax on US products. Ortberg said Boeing was assessing options to re-market 41 of the already built planes to other customers.
“We’re not going to continue to build aircraft for customers who will not take them,” Ortberg said. Boeing is in daily talks with Trump’s team, and Ortberg expressed hope for negotiations.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there was an opportunity for a “big deal” between the US and China on trade, but China needs to be “serious” about reducing its dependence on manufacturing exports.
