Second Boeing Jet Returned to the US Amid Ongoing Trade War Tensions
A second Boeing 737 MAX jet, initially destined for a Chinese airline, was making its way back to the United States on Monday, according to flight tracking data, marking another consequence of the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China.
The aircraft, departing from Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai, was en route to Guam, a common stop for flights traveling the 5,000-mile (8,000-km) route from Boeing’s U.S. production site in Seattle to Zhoushan, where the planes undergo final assembly and are delivered to Chinese carriers.
This move follows the return of another Boeing 737 MAX, which was painted with the livery of China’s Xiamen Airlines. That plane made the same journey back to Seattle’s Boeing Field from Zhoushan on Sunday.
It remains unclear which party decided to send the planes back to the U.S. amidst the evolving trade situation.
Earlier this month, President Trump increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods. This tariff escalation is significant for Chinese airlines, as the additional duties can substantially inflate the price of a new 737 MAX, which is valued at approximately $55 million, according to aviation consultancy IBA.
The two 737 MAX jets had traveled from Seattle to Zhoushan less than a month ago before the tariff increases took effect.
Boeing has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the issue. The return of these jets is another sign of the disruption caused by the trade war, affecting aircraft deliveries and illustrating the breaking of a long-standing exemption for aerospace goods from tariffs.
As Boeing continues to recover from a nearly five-year import freeze on 737 MAX jets and previous trade tensions, the shifting tariff landscape could cause further delays in deliveries. Some airline CEOs have indicated that they may delay accepting new aircraft deliveries rather than face the financial burden of the tariffs, analysts warn.
