Boeing's China Dream Grounded by Trade War?!

Shaken Not Stirred: A Boeing's Secret Mission Aborted

Well this is a bit of a sticky situation isn't it? A Boeing 737 Max all dolled up and ready for her debut in China has suddenly decided to turn around. Back to Seattle like a shaken martini not stirred. Seems the rising tensions between Beijing and Washington have put a bit of a damper on the party. I must say sometimes diplomacy feels like disarming a bomb – one wrong wire and kaboom!

The World Is Not Enough (Planes)

My sources (and I have many darling) whisper of disruptions at Boeing's Zhoushan completion center. Apparently this is where they tart up the planes with interiors and fancy liveries before handing them over to their Chinese owners. But with tariffs looming these planes are stuck in limbo like a poker game where no one wants to show their hand. The world isn't enough planes when trade wars get in the way is it?

From Russia With... Tariffs?!

Bloomberg News (not my favorite source but sometimes they stumble upon something useful) suggests that China might ban Boeing imports altogether! A bit drastic even for them. It's like threatening to cut off your nose to spite your face – only in this case the 'face' is a multi billion dollar trade relationship. All because of Trump's 'reciprocal' global tariffs whatever those are. Sounds like a villain's plot to me.

License to Stall

Of course no one's officially admitting anything. Beijing is as tight lipped as a clam at high tide. But my contacts (the kind who know the difference between a Dom Perignon '53 and a '55) tell me that Boeing is proceeding as if deliveries to China are on ice for now. Which is a polite way of saying 'don't hold your breath darling.' It looks like at least for now Boeing has got a License to Stall.

Diamonds Are Forever (Delayed)

And here's the real kicker: this repatriated plane was all dressed up in Xiamen Airlines colors! Talk about awkward. It's like showing up to a date and realizing you've been stood up. Industry insiders are hinting at discussions to leave planes in bonded storage which is basically like putting them in a time capsule. Diamonds may be forever but this Boeing delivery is certainly delayed perhaps indefinitely.

Die Another Day (For Deliveries)?

This whole debacle comes as Boeing is still recovering from a 737 Max import freeze and previous trade tensions. They opened the Zhoushan plant in 2018 hoping to snag a piece of the booming Chinese market but it seems like fate (and tariffs) have other plans. Looks like Boeing will have to Die Another Day for its Chinese aviation conquest. Perhaps a new strategy is in order. After all I've always found a well placed gadget can change the game.