Trump’s China Visit May Bring Massive Boeing Deal, New US-China Trade Framework

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 18:38 IST

Trump visit to China may yield large Boeing orders and new trade frameworks, as both sides discuss boards on trade and investment.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said “large Boeing orders" are expected during President Donald Trump’s ongoing state visit to China, signalling a possible breakthrough in commercial ties between the world’s two biggest economies.

Speaking to CNBC on Thursday, Bessent suggested Beijing could soon place major aircraft orders with Boeing after nearly a decade of stalled purchases caused by trade tensions, political disputes and safety concerns surrounding the 737 Max aircraft.

“I think we’re going to see the large Boeing orders," Bessent said while discussing what US officials informally call the “three Bs" — beans, beef and Boeing aircraft.

Also Read: Trump–Xi Beijing Summit: Five Takeaways From A High-Stakes Push For Stability

If finalised, the agreement would mark China’s first major Boeing order since Trump’s 2017 visit to Beijing, when a reported $37 billion deal involving 300 aircraft was announced.

Boeing CEO Part Of Trump Delegation

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg arrived in Beijing as part of Trump’s business delegation.

The visit marks the first trip by a sitting US president to China in nearly nine years.

Last month, Ortberg publicly urged Washington to help revive aircraft sales to China, saying Boeing hoped diplomatic engagement could unlock delayed orders.

China had largely frozen major Boeing purchases after 2017 as tensions escalated over trade, technology and Taiwan, while safety concerns following two deadly 737 Max crashes also strained relations.

US, China Discuss ‘Board Of Trade’

Bessent also revealed that Washington and Beijing are discussing the creation of a joint “board of trade" aimed at managing commercial ties in non-sensitive sectors.

He said the mechanism would focus on “non-critical, non-strategic areas," citing consumer goods like fireworks as examples of industries unlikely to face geopolitical restrictions.

The two sides are additionally exploring a separate “board of investment" to review and guide Chinese investments into the US before they face scrutiny from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

CFIUS has blocked several Chinese acquisitions in recent years over national security concerns.

AI, Energy And Agriculture Also On Agenda

Artificial intelligence also featured prominently in discussions between the two countries.

Bessent said both nations recognised each other as “AI superpowers" and were discussing safeguards to prevent advanced AI systems from falling into the hands of non-state actors.

However, he claimed China remained “substantially behind" the US in AI development.

Energy and agriculture were also major talking points during the summit.

According to the White House, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed interest in increasing purchases of American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the strategically vulnerable Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also pushed for greater Chinese imports of US agricultural products.

Xi Calls For Stable Ties

In remarks reported by Chinese state media, Xi said trade negotiations led by Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Seoul had produced “generally balanced and positive outcomes."

Xi said both countries should maintain the “hard-won positive momentum" and work toward a “constructive and strategically stable" relationship.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang also struck a conciliatory tone during meetings with American business leaders, calling them “old friends" and saying China and the US “could and should" remain partners.

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