As tensions rise between the U.S. and China over tariffs, a Boeing aircraft bound for delivery to a Chinese airline unexpectedly returned to American soil.
Reuters reported on Sunday that a Boeing 737 Max, ready for delivery to Xiamen Airlines, turned back to Boeing’s production facility in Seattle on the afternoon of Saturday. The aircraft
had been on an 8,000-kilometer round trip, refueling in Guam and Hawaii, as it awaited delivery to the Chinese carrier.
This reversal marks the first concrete disruption in new aircraft deliveries, stemming from the erosion of a long-standing tariff exemption agreement between the U.S. and China.
The incident follows President Trump’s recent decision to hike the baseline tariff on Chinese goods to 145%, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% tariff on U.S. products. The party responsible for the aircraft’s return remains undisclosed.
