Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Deliveries to China Amid Eased Tariff Tensions

Boeing (NYSE:BA) has resumed 737 MAX deliveries to China, marking a potential thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions. A new 737 MAX aircraft, painted in Xiamen Airlines livery, landed on Monday at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai after departing Seattle and refueling in Hawaii and Guam.

The U.S. planemaker had paused deliveries to China in April as both countries escalated tariffs. However, with a 90-day rollback of some trade restrictions announced in late May, Boeing confirmed it would restart deliveries in June.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed the same aircraft had initially been delivered to Zhoushan in March but was returned to the U.S. in mid-April amid halted orders from Chinese carriers. Monday’s landing signals renewed activity after Boeing repatriated at least three jets from China in April that were meant for final delivery stages.

Boeing, Xiamen Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) have not commented on the resumed delivery. Despite recent trade uncertainty, China remains a key market for Boeing, accounting for roughly 10% of its commercial aircraft backlog.

With representatives from China and the U.S. set to meet in London to discuss trade policy, the return of Boeing jets may reflect cautious optimism for improved relations. In April, Boeing reported plans to deliver 50 aircraft to Chinese airlines this year, with 41 already in production or pre-built.

Although Boeing had considered reselling grounded aircraft to other markets, the planes remained in inventory, signaling the company’s anticipation of resumed business with China. The latest delivery could be a step toward stabilizing Boeing’s relationship with one of its most vital international markets.