Boeing's 200-Jet Deal Touted as 'Trump Achievement' Hits Red Light

Chinese President Xi Jinping's promise to U.S. President Donald Trump to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft is facing the threat of collapse due to China's sudden additional demands.

According to U.S. political media outlet Politico on the 22nd (local time), the Chinese government recently made new demands regarding conditions for the purchase of Boeing aircraft, including maintenance for engines and spare parts, as well as guarantees for long-term supply.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity told Politico that the purchase negotiations have fallen into a deadlock as China abruptly introduced these new terms.

The sources added that the White House plans to raise the issue regarding the Boeing sale during talks with Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who is visiting the United States this week.

An official familiar with the U.S. negotiating stance claimed that the White House is taken aback by China's "out-of-nowhere move," asserting that post-delivery maintenance for the aircraft was not included in the agreement between the two leaders.

However, because no official agreement document was drawn up during the summit at the time, coordinating differences over the sales conditions is proving practically difficult.

"China wants firm guarantees to ensure it won't be unilaterally pushed around in a situation where the U.S. could potentially control maintenance support down the road," the official said.

Previously, the White House announced during the U.S.-China summit held on the occasion of President Trump's visit to China in May that China had agreed to purchase 200 U.S. Boeing aircraft.

The total purchase amount was estimated at roughly 17 billion to 19 billion dollars (24 trillion to 28 trillion won), and the White House has heavily promoted this as a signature achievement of the summit.

Some point out that if the final agreement continues to be delayed or falls through altogether, even the current atmosphere of a "trade war truce" agreed upon by the two leaders could be shaken.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government is reportedly failing to properly fulfill its promise to purchase at least 17 billion dollars (25.5 trillion won) worth of U.S. agricultural products annually by 2028.

China's implementation performance has remained at a minimal level so far, and U.S. administration officials plan to raise this issue alongside during the meeting with Vice Minister Ma, sources said.

"China's purchases of U.S. soybeans have only just begun to increase in recent weeks," one source said, adding, "The U.S. administration is furious after verifying the actual volume of agricultural products delivered to China since the U.S.-China summit."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.