China Agrees to Multibillion-Dollar Deal to Buy 200 Boeing Jets, Announced by President Trump

China has agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft in a multibillion-dollar deal, President Donald Trump announced this week, marking what would be the country's first major acquisition of US-built commercial jets in nearly a decade.

President Trump revealed the agreement during a televised interview, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed the commitment during high-level discussions in Beijing. Boeing had initially anticipated an order of around 150 aircraft, but China ultimately agreed to increase the figure to 200, described by Trump as "big planes."

The development comes at a pivotal moment for Boeing, which has faced prolonged challenges in the Chinese market due to geopolitical tensions, regulatory delays, and intensified competition from Airbus. Despite the scale of the deal, Boeing's share price dipped following the announcement, as some analysts had expected a larger commitment-potentially up to 500 aircraft-based on earlier industry expectations.

Details on the specific aircraft models included in the 200-jet agreement have not yet been disclosed. Market observers anticipate a combination of 737 MAX narrow-body aircraft and wide-body models such as the 787 Dreamliner and 777, reflecting China's growing demand for both domestic and international capacity.

If finalised and converted into firm airline orders, the deal would represent a significant step toward re-establishing Boeing's presence in the world's second-largest aviation market. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg joined President Trump during the Beijing visit, underscoring the strategic importance of the negotiations.

China has placed only limited Boeing orders over the past decade, making this announcement a potential turning point in US-China commercial aviation relations.