China Agrees to Buy 200 Boeing Jets, Trump Says

CNBC reported Thursday that President Donald Trump told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity that China has committed to purchasing 200 Boeing aircraft. Trump attributed the agreement directly to Chinese President Xi Jinping during an on-air conversation that aired Thursday afternoon.

A Deal Announced on Live Television

Trump framed the commitment as one of the headline outcomes of his China visit. He confirmed the buyer is Xi’s government and called the order significant. Neither Boeing nor the White House had issued a formal statement by the time of publication. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg traveled to China alongside Trump and other senior American executives as part of the diplomatic trip.

Analysts Had Expected a Bigger Number

Wall Street had been pricing in a far larger transaction. Jefferies analysts had estimated the potential order at as many as 500 aircraft. That forecast made the 200-plane figure a mild disappointment relative to market expectations. Analysts had also anticipated the deal would lean heavily on Boeing’s best-selling 737 Max narrowbody jet, though Trump did not specify which models were included.

Background: A Decade Without a Major Chinese Order

Boeing has not landed a significant commercial aircraft contract from China in roughly ten years. During that stretch, Chinese carriers steadily shifted purchasing activity toward Airbus, Boeing’s primary European rival. The drought made any resumption of orders from Beijing a closely watched milestone for the manufacturer, which has faced years of production setbacks and regulatory scrutiny. Ortberg flagged the Trump-Xi summit last month during a quarterly earnings call, describing it as a potential “meaningful opportunity” that could include a plane order. He declined to specify a number at the time but said it would be substantial.

Shares Slip Despite the Announcement

Boeing’s stock moved lower rather than higher on the news. Shares were off more than 4% in early afternoon trading Thursday, suggesting investors had already factored in a larger deal or were reacting to broader market conditions on the day. The gap between the announced figure and the Jefferies estimate of up to 500 planes likely weighed on sentiment. Whether Boeing can secure follow-on orders or expand the scope of the current agreement remains an open question as trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing continue.

Read Next: US-China Trade Truce Cuts Tariffs for 90 Days as Both Sides Claim Win