China Sends $55M Boeing Jet Back to the U.S. as Trade War Heats Up
Looks like trade tensions between the U.S. and China just got real—again. Over the weekend, a brand-new Boeing 737 MAX meant for China’s Xiamen Airlines was flown back across the Pacific to Seattle. Price tag? A cool $55 million.
The jet had been getting its final touch-ups at Boeing’s facility in Zhoushan, China, when the deal suddenly got scrapped. Why? Sky-high tariffs made the sale a non-starter. With the U.S. slapping up to 145% duties on Chinese goods and China firing back with a 125% tariff on U.S. exports—including jets like this—the math just didn’t work anymore. That plane would’ve cost China double.
It’s a big red flag for Boeing, which has long counted on China as a major customer. But with this latest move, it’s clear that Chinese airlines might be eyeing Airbus more seriously for future orders.
This isn't just a one-off—it’s a sign that the trade war is messing with billion-dollar deals in real time.