In a passionate statement on Thursday, President Trump lashed out at China for its decision to halt the acceptance of Boeing aircraft amid the ongoing trade dispute between the two nations. The rejection, according to Trump, is another example of China taking advantage of the United States.
“Boeing should demand compensation from China for not accepting the beautifully crafted planes they had committed to purchasing. This is just a small glimpse of what China has done to the U.S. for years,” Trump said on Truth Social. “And let’s not forget, Fentanyl continues to flood into our country from China through Mexico and Canada, taking the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. This has to stop now!”
Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, revealed in an interview on CNBC that China had halted the delivery of Boeing planes due to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. As a result, some 737 Max planes that were en route to China are now being redirected back to the United States.
The ongoing trade war between the two countries has led the U.S. to impose a hefty 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports, while also enforcing a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs with other nations, setting a 10 percent rate.
Trump recently acknowledged that the additional 125 percent tariff imposed on China earlier this month, on top of the already existing 20 percent tariff, is “very high.” He also hinted at a potential shift in his stance toward striking a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Furthermore, Trump stated that his administration has been in constant communication with China over trade issues.
However, China contradicted Trump’s comments, with Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong stating on Thursday that there have been no active trade negotiations with the U.S. He called claims of any progress “groundless” and lacking factual support.
The White House has yet to comment on China’s denial of ongoing talks.
