US President Donald Trump on Thursday said China had committed to buying 200 Boeing aircraft following talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling it an order for “200 big ones” during an interview with Fox News.
“It was sort of like a statement but I think it was a commitment,” Trump said while describing his discussions with Xi. “That’s a lot of jobs,” he added in the interview with Fox host Sean Hannity.
The comments came during Trump’s visit to Beijing, where trade and economic ties featured prominently in discussions between the two countries.
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According to US media reports, the potential deal could involve around 500 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft, along with nearly 100 wide-body jets including the 787 Dreamliner and 777 models.
Boeing did not immediately comment on Trump’s remarks.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who was part of the US delegation attending the Beijing summit, had earlier expressed optimism about a possible Chinese order.
“I think that’s 100% dependent on the US-China negotiations and relations,” Ortberg told analysts last month.
The last major Boeing order from China came in 2017 during Trump’s first term, when Beijing agreed to purchase 300 aircraft in a deal estimated at $37 billion.
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China remains one of Boeing’s most critical international markets, particularly as the US aerospace major seeks to recover from years of regulatory scrutiny, supply-chain disruptions and intensifying competition from Airbus.
(With inputs from agencies)
