A group of US Congressmen on an official visit to Beijing discussed a potential landmark deal with China expected to buy up to 500 Boeing jets. The deal is seen as a major boost by President Trump and could be a major turnaround for Boeing after Chinese orders stalled due to trade tensions.
The visit is the first House delegation to China since 2019, and comes after Trump and President Xi Jinping held talks to improve bilateral ties. In addition to trade issues, US and Chinese officials also discussed the need to strengthen military dialogue amid concerns about the number of nuclear weapons.
Boeing, a major US exporter, sells about 25% of its aircraft to China, but has not secured a major purchase since Trump's first term. Negotiations are now understood to be in the final stages, with the US ambassador stressing his importance to the president.
However, US-China relations remain fraught with other issues including technology restrictions, the South China Sea, Taiwan, and the ownership of TikTok. Congressmen like Ro Khanna also emphasized the technological and economic dimensions of competition, making this visit broader than just Boeing negotiations.
