China confirms plan for airlines to introduce 200 Boeing aircraft

BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday that Chinese airlines will introduce 200 Boeing aircraft, confirming a major aviation arrangement announced after recent high-level trade contacts between Beijing and Washington.

The ministry’s statement came days after US President Donald Trump said China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing jets fitted with GE Aerospace engines following his visit to China. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said the arrangement

includes approximately 200 planes and a promise of up to 750 if they do a good job

According to the Chinese commerce ministry, the aircraft will be supplied by Boeing and brought into airline fleets in line with commercial demand and expansion requirements. The statement also said the United States would continue supplying engines and other key components.

Part of wider trade understandings

Beijing presented the aircraft arrangement as one element of a broader economic understanding reached during talks involving Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during Trump’s state visit from May 13 to 15.

Alongside the aviation agreement, the two sides agreed in principle to examine a reciprocal tariff-reduction mechanism under a future Trade Council framework. The proposed plan would apply to at least $30 billion in goods from each country and could allow selected products to receive lower tariff rates or most-favoured-nation treatment.

Chinese officials said the aim was to avoid further tariff escalation and ensure any new US trade steps remain within agreed limits, particularly after legal and political uncertainty in Washington over earlier tariff policies.

New councils and trade management

China and the United States have also agreed to set up new Trade and Investment Councils intended to move bilateral engagement away from crisis-based negotiations toward a standing mechanism for dispute resolution, policy coordination and broader cooperation. Officials described the proposed bodies as a framework meant to bring greater stability to one of the world’s most significant economic relationships.

The two governments also reviewed the Kuala Lumpur trade arrangement reached in October 2025, which temporarily suspended a range of tariffs and countermeasures until November 2026. Those measures included US reciprocal tariffs, Chinese countermeasures, export controls and restrictions affecting sectors including maritime logistics and shipbuilding. Both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining that arrangement and are discussing a possible extension.

Agriculture and rare earths also discussed

Agricultural trade featured prominently in the negotiations. China is seeking broader access for US farm goods, while the United States continues to depend on Chinese demand for exports such as soybeans, beef and poultry. At the same time, Chinese exports including seafood, fruits, vegetables and dairy products are expected to receive improved access to the US market under the evolving arrangement. Both countries agreed to address selected non-tariff barriers and set indicative targets for expanding two-way agricultural trade.

In separate market-access steps, the United States agreed to ease several restrictions, including ending automatic detention measures on Chinese dairy products, permitting trial imports of Chinese bonsai plants and removing barriers affecting certain aquatic products. Washington also committed to advancing recognition of disease-free zones for avian influenza and speeding up regulatory reviews of Chinese companies.

In return, China agreed to resume registration approvals for qualified US beef exporters, ease poultry import restrictions from selected US states and restart imports of certain poultry products, while continuing technical reviews linked to food safety and veterinary standards.

The two sides also discussed exports of rare earth elements and critical minerals including yttrium, scandium, neodymium and indium. China said its export controls are enforced under domestic law through a licensing system for civilian-use applications, while also expressing willingness to work with Washington to support stable global supply chains and address shared concerns over strategic materials.

The overall package points to a measured effort by both governments to manage tensions while preserving trade in key sectors, with the Boeing order standing out as one of the most significant single procurement commitments in recent years.