WASHINGTON : Bloomberg reports that the U.S. aerospace giant and Chinese officials are negotiating the terms of a complex aircraft sale, including the types of jets, delivery schedules, and final volumes. While still under discussion, the deal could serve as the centrepiece of a broader U.S.-China trade agreement, with benefits for both President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.

Chinese authorities are already consulting with domestic airlines on their fleet needs. Talks have centered on Boeing’s 737 Max series, the company’s most popular single-aisle jet, signaling Beijing’s intent to lay the groundwork for a major order.

For China, the deal would secure valuable delivery slots in a market where both Boeing and Airbus are largely sold out into the 2030s. China’s commercial fleet is projected to more than double over the next 20 years, to nearly 10,000 airplanes — far outstripping the capacity of local manufacturer Comac.

Boeing’s last major Chinese deal dates back to November 2017, when Trump visited Beijing, resulting in orders and commitments for 300 planes worth $37 billion at the time. Since 2019, however, Airbus has dominated Chinese orders, with Boeing notching only 30 sales as the 737 Max was grounded after two fatal accidents.

The negotiations come as Washington and Beijing seek to ease trade tensions, which saw tariffs climb as high as 145% during earlier disputes. Xi recently invited Trump to visit China, raising speculation that a final aircraft agreement could be announced as soon as October ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.