A Boeing 737 Max plane built for China has finally returned to its home country, the United States. The plane landed at the company’s landing site in Seattle, USA, at 6:11 pm local time on Saturday.
The plane had to return due to the imposition of reciprocal tariffs and the ongoing trade war between the United States and China during the term of US President Donald Trump.
According to media reports, citing witnesses, the plane stopped in Guam and Hawaii to refuel on its approximately 5,000-mile (8,000-kilometer) return trip. It is one of several 737 Max model planes undergoing final work at Boeing’s Zhoushan center in China to supply the Chinese company. However, it is not certain which party decided to return the plane to the United States.
Boeing has not said anything about this. Xiamen Air did not respond to a request for comment.
The aircraft industry has been duty-free for decades. This is the latest sign that the changing landscape is disrupting new aircraft supplies due to retaliatory tariffs.
Trump imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods this month. China responded by imposing a 125 percent tariff on US goods.
The market value of a new 737 Max model is about $55 million, according to aviation consultancy IBA. The tariffs are likely to cripple Chinese airlines. Sources: Reuters, CNN, The Guardian