President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded their high-stakes summit in Beijing with significant developments for both American companies and trade relations. According to The New York Times, Beijing approved the resumption of beef exports from hundreds of US slaughterhouses to China, roughly 14 months after Chinese authorities allowed their export licenses to lapse amid tensions tied to President Trump's initial tariffs. The timing coincided with plans for Senator Steve Daines of Montana, a key US beef-exporting state, to visit Beijing as an informal envoy days later. Earlier in the day, the General Administration of Customs website listed more than 600 US slaughterhouses with renewed export licenses, many valid through December 2029. However, by evening, the listings were quietly revised without explanation, with only around 200 facilities still appearing authorized to ship meat to China, while roughly 400 others were marked as holding licenses but barred from exporting.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded their high-stakes summit in Beijing with significant developments for Boeing. According to the latest White House readout, Trump confirmed that China has agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft during their bilateral meeting, with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg among the nearly 20 executives Trump brought to China. The deal represents China's first acquisition of commercial aircraft manufactured in the United States in almost ten years, ending Boeing's protracted order drought in the second-largest aviation market. However, the order fell short of earlier expectations, which had anticipated up to 500 737 Max jets and additional widebody aircraft, with the exact models within the 200-jet order not yet disclosed. As reported by CNBC TV18, Trump made the initial announcement during an interview with Fox News Channel's "Hannity," stating that "they got 200, but Boeing wanted 150."
Despite the positive announcements, Boeing shares dropped as much as 5.4% to $227.50 following the news, closing near the $227.50 level after pre-market gains fueled by anticipation of the deal. As reported by CNBC TV18, the stock has been up almost 7% for the year prior to this decline. Investor unease stems from the order's size, perceived as less than a 2017 deal for 300 aircraft, and importantly, the lack of confirmation for the 737 Max. China was the first country to ground the 737 Max following two fatal crashes and was among the last to permit its return to service in 2023, raising questions about Boeing's ability to fully regain its market share in China. The deal would benefit Boeing during its corporate turnaround spearheaded by CEO Kelly Ortberg, a member of Trump's delegation, as it would resume shipments to China and guarantee Chinese carriers access to US-built aircraft amid demand exceeding manufacturer capacity.
The summit revealed significant tensions over Taiwan, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning writing on X that Xi told Trump that "the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations." As reported by NBC News, Mao stated that "if it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy." Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed that U.S. policy toward Taiwan was "unchanged" and warned that it would be "a terrible mistake" for China to try to take Taiwan forcefully. The Trump administration had approved a $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan in December and is expected to approve another $14 billion arms sale sometime after Trump returns from China. Melanie Hart from the Atlantic Council noted that "Beijing has very clearly tied the arms sale to Trump's trip to China," with China declaring that proceeding with the plan would make it difficult to have collaboration with Beijing on other issues.
According to CNBC TV18, since Trump's last visit to China in 2017, China has not revealed a significant Boeing order, and the majority of that agreement had already been made public. Beijing usually purchases aircraft in large quantities from competitors Airbus SE and Boeing, then distributes them among the state-owned carriers. China committed in January 2020 to buy $77 billion worth of US-produced goods, including aircraft, but after the Covid epidemic reduced air travel, the commitment was not fulfilled. The U.S.-China trade relationship has significantly altered Boeing's position in China's crucial aviation market, with Boeing's market share shrinking over the past decade, largely overtaken by rival Airbus, which now controls about 55% of China's narrow-body market and has secured substantial orders. The deal comes as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet this week to discuss issues causing friction between the two biggest economies, including trade restrictions and sanctions, as well as the conflict in Iran.
As reported by CNBC TV18, the deal comes as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet this week to discuss issues causing friction between the two biggest economies, including trade restrictions and sanctions, as well as the conflict in Iran. Boeing has received numerous orders since Trump took office, with these purchases being a major component of trade accords with nations like South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Trump has claimed to have assisted Boeing in selling 1,000 aircraft. However, Boeing's current order backlog shows Chinese airlines accounting for only about 2% of its orders, a substantial decrease from previous years, as China's own manufacturer, COMAC, is increasing its production and market share, aiming to capture a larger part of the growing Chinese fleet. CEO Robert Kelly Ortberg, who began his role in August 2024, faces the challenge of navigating these complex relationships and refocusing the company on quality and production.
Despite the immediate market reaction, analysts largely hold a positive view on Boeing. With 16 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is "Strong Buy" or "Buy," with an average 12-month price target of approximately $269.75, suggesting an upside of over 12%. Analysts project revenue growth in the coming years, with estimates for 2026 reaching $115.53 billion. However, concerns about the 737 Max rework, delivery pace, and ongoing legal challenges, such as a lawsuit filed by Polish Airlines, remain near-term pressures. Boeing currently trades at a high Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio, with trailing twelve months (TTM) figures ranging from 98.4 to over 123.70, significantly higher than market and aerospace sector averages. Regulatory filings show significant institutional interest, with Capital World Investors holding over 5.2% of Boeing's shares as of March 31, 2026.
