The Chinese government has instructed its airlines to halt Boeing aircraft deliveries amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. The trade war, initiated in April, continues to escalate, with both nations imposing tariffs on each other's goods. A recent report by Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, revealed this new directive.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in China, which regulates airlines' capacity to acquire new aircraft, is enforcing these instructions. Following this latest order, China is also considering aiding airlines that lease Boeing planes to manage increased expenses due to tariffs imposed on U.S.-manufactured goods.
The United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, recently declared a "Liberation Day," enacting a 10% tariff on all imports and implementing higher tariffs on nations with significant trade deficits. The statement accompanying these measures accused China's "non-market policies" of contributing to both U.S. job losses and China's global economic dominance. On April 8, the U.S. increased its tariffs on Chinese products from 34% to 84%, with China responding in kind. Despite some retreat from these tariffs after pressure, the U.S. issued further tariff increases, with President Trump confirming the rates had soared to 145%.