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U.S. aerospace giant Boeing is in negotiations to sell as many as 500 aircraft to Chinese companies, Bloomberg News reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
If finalized, the deal would mark a significant boost for the struggling manufacturer. Boeing shares jumped as much as 3.7% in pre-market trading following the report, but settled to a gain of less than 1% shortly after markets opened.
According to Bloomberg, the potential agreement hinges on broader progress in trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing. Chinese officials have reportedly begun surveying domestic airlines to determine demand for new aircraft.
Such a deal would likely form part of a wider U.S.-China trade agreement. Aircraft sales from Boeing (the largest U.S. manufacturing exporter) have historically been leveraged by the White House in efforts to reduce trade imbalances.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on major trading partners, particularly targeting China. In response, Beijing and Washington exchanged escalating tariffs, at one point halting deliveries of Boeing aircraft.
However, the two sides agreed in May to temporarily ease duties and have since extended the arrangement while pursuing a long-term trade deal.
China's last major purchase from Boeing came during Trump’s state visit in November 2017, when Beijing committed to buying 300 aircraft valued at over $37 billion.
Boeing, which reported a narrower second-quarter loss in July, also delivered its highest number of aircraft since 2018. Still, the company continues to face scrutiny over quality control, particularly following a fuselage panel blowout on a 737 MAX in January 2024. That incident came after two fatal crashes involving the same model in 2018 and 2019.
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