New trade tension: Beijing halts Boeing aircraft deliveries due to customs duties.

In a move reflecting escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced this morning that the additional tariffs imposed by Washington are the main reason behind Beijing's decision to halt the delivery of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. The ministry considered these tariffs as "seriously undermining the stability of global industrial and supply chains, leading to disruptions in the international aviation market, preventing many companies from operating normally," as reported by Agence France-Presse. This announcement comes after statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said in a post on "Truth Social" platform that Boeing "must not fulfill its obligations with China," considering Beijing's refusal to accept the aircraft as "a small example of what China has done to America for years." The American giant company faces a new challenge as it now seeks to resell dozens of aircraft that it couldn't deliver to China, after returning a third plane of this model to U.S. soil. Boeing's CEO, Kelly Ortberg, explained that the main reason behind the halt in aircraft deliveries is "the unfavorable trade environment resulting from the tariffs." Since Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, the United States has imposed an additional 145% tariff on a wide range of Chinese products, justifying it by Beijing's role in fentanyl supply chains, as well as what Washington describes as "unfair practices." In response, China imposed retaliatory tariffs of 125% on American goods. Amid these charged atmospheres, Boeing appears trapped between political pressures and commercial losses, while concerns escalate about the fate of aircraft contracts in one of the world's largest aviation markets. Will the conflict escalate further, or are signs of de-escalation on the horizon?