$BTC China Returns Boeing’s $55M Jet to U.S. as Trade Tensions Deepen

A brand-new Boeing 737 MAX jet, originally intended for China’s Xiamen Airlines, was flown back to the United States this weekend, marking a significant setback in the worsening trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. Valued at roughly $55 million, the aircraft touched down at Boeing Field in Seattle at 6:11 p.m. on Saturday after a trans-Pacific journey with refueling stops in Guam and Hawaii.

The plane had been awaiting final inspections and delivery at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center in China. However, the delivery was abruptly canceled following the introduction of steep new tariffs that made the transaction financially untenable.

Earlier this month, the U.S. raised tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods to as high as 145%, aiming to address persistent trade imbalances and concerns over intellectual property practices. In retaliation, China slapped a 125% tariff on multiple American exports—including commercial aircraft.

The added cost would have pushed the Boeing jet’s final price tag to more than $110 million, effectively doubling its original cost and leading to its return.