China has quietly lifted a freeze on new Boeing aircraft deliveries to domestic airlines, just hours after Beijing and Washington reached a significant breakthrough in their ongoing trade dispute.
According to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter, Chinese aviation authorities have begun notifying domestic carriers that they may now resume accepting U.S.-made planes.
The move marks a key shift in a months-long standoff that had seen Chinese airlines halt Boeing orders amid rising tariffs and strained diplomatic ties.
The reversal follows Monday’s joint announcement from the U.S. and China that both sides will sharply lower tariffs for a 90-day period and re-engage in negotiations. Under the new agreement, U.S. import duties on Chinese goods will drop from 145% to 30%, while China’s retaliatory tariffs will fall from 125% to 10%.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the agreement as a “total reset,” expressing optimism that direct talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place soon.
Boeing has yet to comment publicly on the reported development, and China’s Foreign Ministry also did not immediately respond to media inquiries. However, last month, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed that deliveries to China had been stalled, with around 50 aircraft originally scheduled for 2025 at risk.
The restoration of Boeing deliveries could offer a much-needed commercial reprieve for the aerospace giant, which has faced turbulence from both trade tensions and internal production challenges in recent years. For China, the move signals a cautious willingness to stabilize ties with Washington while securing key industrial imports.
While the temporary tariff truce offers breathing space, analysts warn that deeper structural issues—ranging from intellectual property to market access—still loom large in the U.S.-China economic rivalry.
