A Boeing jet supposed for a Chinese language airline landed again on the planemaker’s US manufacturing hub on Sunday, a sufferer of the tit-for-tat bilateral tariffs launched by Donald Trump.
The 737 MAX, which was meant for China’s Xiamen Airways, landed at Seattle’s Boeing Discipline at 6.11pm, based on a Reuters witness. It was painted with Xiamen livery.
The jet, which made refuelling stops in Guam and Hawaii on its 5,000-mile (8,000-km) return journey, was one in all a number of 737 MAX jets – Boeing’s bestselling mannequin – that had been ready at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion centre for closing work and supply.
Trump this month raised baseline tariffs on Chinese language imports to 145%. In retaliation, China imposed a 125% tariff on US items.
A Chinese language airline taking supply of a Boeing jet might be crippled by the tariffs, given {that a} new 737 MAX has a market worth of round $55m, based on IBA, an aviation consultancy.
It was not clear which occasion made the choice for the plane to return to the US. Boeing and Xiamen had not responded to Reuters requests for remark at time of publication.
Confusion over altering tariffs may leave many aircraft deliveries in limbo, with some airline CEOs saying they’d defer supply of planes moderately than pay duties, analysts say.
