The agreement represents a significant reopening of a market that had once accounted for a major share of Boeing’s global commercial aircraft deliveries before trade tensions and safety concerns sharply reduced Chinese demand.

Speaking aboard Air Force One after departing Beijing, Trump said China also secured an option to purchase as many as 750 additional Boeing aircraft under the arrangement. Boeing later confirmed the 200-plane order but did not disclose aircraft models, delivery timelines or financial terms.

“We had a very successful trip to China and accomplished our major goal of reopening the China market to orders for Boeing aircraft,” the company said in a statement, adding that it expected to continue addressing China’s long-term aviation demand.

Boeing Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg joined a delegation of senior American executives accompanying Trump during the Beijing visit as U.S. companies sought to deepen commercial engagement with China despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Trump said the agreement would also benefit GE Aerospace, which he said could supply between 400 and 450 aircraft engines tied to the deal. GE Aerospace Chief Executive H. Lawrence Culp was also part of the delegation.

The Trump administration has increasingly positioned Boeing at the center of its strategy to expand U.S. manufacturing exports and strengthen industrial competitiveness abroad. Several major aircraft orders have followed presidential visits and bilateral meetings during Trump’s second term.

Last year, Qatar Airways agreed to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody aircraft during Trump’s Middle East visit, while Korean Air later formalized a deal valued at roughly $50 billion for aircraft, engines and maintenance services following talks in Washington with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Additional orders followed from Turkish Airlines, Emirates and FlyDubai, helping Boeing recover from a prolonged downturn in international sales.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China accounted for roughly one-third of Boeing’s narrowbody aircraft deliveries. The company’s position weakened after deteriorating U.S.-China relations and the grounding of the 737 MAX fleet following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people.

China became the first country to suspend operations of the 737 MAX in 2019 and resumed flights only in 2023, later than many other aviation markets.
Ortberg assumed leadership of Boeing in 2024 during a period of mounting operational and financial pressure after a panel blowout aboard a 737 MAX flight departing Portland, Oregon intensified scrutiny over manufacturing standards and safety controls.

Analysts said details surrounding broader trade agreements reached during the Trump-Xi summit remained limited. Bonnie Glaser said there was little publicly available information on other potential Chinese purchases involving U.S. agricultural and energy exports.

The acquisition includes advanced F-35 Lightning II jets and upgraded F-15IA aircraft, aimed at strengthening Israel’s long-term air superiority and expanding its operational capacity amid heightened regional tensions.

The Defense Ministry said the agreement received final authorization after completing the required approval process, marking one of the country’s largest recent military procurement decisions.

The purchase comes as Israel continues military operations across multiple fronts, including ongoing tensions involving Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and regional security threats linked to broader instability in the Middle East.

The F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter platforms, designed for precision strike missions, intelligence gathering and electronic warfare.

The F-15IA, based on Boeing’s advanced F-15 platform and customized for Israeli operational needs, is expected to enhance long-range strike capability and payload flexibility.

Defense officials have repeatedly emphasized the need to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, particularly as neighboring actors expand missile programs, drone capabilities and air defense systems.The latest procurement also reinforces long-standing strategic defense ties between Israel and the United States, where military aid and defense cooperation remain central pillars of bilateral relations.

Washington has consistently supported Israel’s modernization of its air force through joint defense agreements, foreign military financing and access to advanced weapons systems.The scale of the deal reflects both immediate operational demands and longer-term strategic planning as Israel adapts its force structure to increasingly complex regional security challenges.

O’Leary said last month that he was “optimistic, but not confident” on the timing of the first tranche of 150 MAX 10 jets it has on order.

His more upbeat assessment followed a conversation two weeks ago with Boeing commercial airplanes head Stephanie Pope.

‘They’ve written to us confirming they expect to deliver those Max 10s to us in the spring of 2027… We do not believe there will any be any delays to our first (delivery),” O’Leary told a news conference.

Biden said, “I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing”.

“This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership”, he said.

Biden further stated, “Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges—creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our citizens”.

Reacting to the Biden’s announcement, famous cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted, “I hadn’t imagined a day would come when an American President would issue a statement that an order placed by an Indian company would lead to “one million American jobs over 44 states…”

Tuesday saw the announcement of negotiations by Air India for a record 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, hastening the regeneration of a national symbol under new owners Tata Group as Europe and the US praised the strengthening of their political and commercial ties with New Delhi.

The provisional agreements, which break previous records for a single airline as Air India competes with domestic behemoth IndiGo to serve what will soon be the world’s largest population, comprise 220 planes from Boeing (BA.N) and 250 from Airbus (AIR.PA).

According to the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the agreement between Air India, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce, will result in the creation of new jobs.