China confirms buying 200 Boeing jets from US

New tariff talks, agri-deals, and rare earth negotiations signal cautious reset in China-US ties

China's Ministry of Commerce has confirmed that Chinese airlines will introduce 200 Boeing aircraft, marking one of the largest single procurement commitments in recent years, according to an official statement.

The announcement came days after President Donald Trump claimed that China had agreed to buy 200 Boeing jets with GE Aerospace engines. Trump told reporters that the deal "includes about 200 planes and a promise of up to 750, if they do a good job".

The announcement on the website of China's Ministry of Commerce outlines the preliminary outcomes of recent high-level trade engagements between Beijing and Washington. The aircraft will be supplied based on commercial demand and fleet expansion needs, with the US ensuring continued supply of engines and critical components. The deal was part of the broader economic understanding reached during Trump's state visit to Beijing from May 13 to 15. Alongside the aircraft agreement, both sides have agreed in principle to explore a reciprocal tariff?reduction mechanism under a future Trade Council framework. The proposed arrangement would cover at least $30 billion worth of goods on each side, allowing selected products to benefit from lower tariff rates.

Chinese officials stressed that the objective is to prevent future tariff escalations and ensure new US trade measures remain within agreed ceilings.Beijing and Washington have also agreed to establish new Trade and Investment Councils to shift bilateral engagement away from crisis?driven negotiations towards a permanent institutional mechanism for resolving disputes and coordinating policy.

Agricultural trade has also emerged as a key pillar. China, one of the world's largest agricultural import markets, is seeking expanded access for US farm products. Chinese agricultural exports, including seafood, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, are expected to gain improved access to the US market. Both sides have agreed to address selected non?tariff barriers. Another sensitive area discussed was the export of rare earth elements and critical minerals such as yttrium, scandium, neodymium and indium, China reaffirmed that its export controls are implemented under domestic law through a licensing system for civilian?use applications.

Both governments have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the Kuala Lumpur trade arrangement reached in October 2025, which temporarily suspended tariffs and countermeasures until November 2026.

The United States agreed to ease several restrictions, including lifting automatic detention measures on Chinese dairy products and allowing trial imports of Chinese bonsai plants. China agreed to resume registration approvals for qualified US beef exporters and ease poultry import restrictions from selected US states. While structural tensions remain, the scale of the Boeing order and the institutional frameworks under discussion signal a mutual interest in preventing further escalation. Both sides appear willing to compartmentalise disputes while preserving trade flows in critical interdependent sectors.