Boeing is reportedly closing in on one of the largest orders in its history: roughly 500 737 MAX jets that sources say could be announced during President Donald Trump’s state visit to China at the end of March. The package, first reported Friday, comes alongside separate talks over about 100 widebody planes, including 787 Dreamliners and 777X models, and would mark a major reentry for Boeing into the Chinese market. For Seattle and the wider Puget Sound aerospace supply chain, the prospect raises the possibility of an accelerated production ramp and a big, multi-year work stream.
According to a report by Bloomberg, people familiar with the talks say the order would center on the 737 MAX family and could be unveiled when Trump travels to Beijing. The report says the transaction would be one of the largest in Boeing’s commercial history and could form the centerpiece of a broader trade announcement between the two leaders. The precise mix of MAX variants and the delivery timetable, however, are still under negotiation.
Reporters Warn The Deal Is Not Yet Final
Reuters cautioned that it was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg reporting and said several sticking points remain unresolved. Boeing declined to comment. Reuters also noted that China may be negotiating a parallel large package with Airbus and that President Trump’s trip is scheduled for March 31 to April 2. Investors did not wait for a final signature; the company’s shares climbed on the news.
What It Could Mean For Puget Sound Production
Locally, a multi-hundred-plane order would put fresh pressure on Boeing’s narrowbody lines and could speed hiring tied to the long-planned North Line in Everett. The Seattle Times reported this winter that Boeing has begun hiring for the Everett line and expects to open the North Line by midsummer to add narrowbody capacity. The Puget Sound Business Journal flagged the deal reporting and noted that additional Everett capacity would be critical to moving a large delivery schedule forward if the order is signed.
Politics, Financing And Practical Hurdles
Diplomatic timing matters: big aircraft packages have historically been used as trade gestures, and Bloomberg has highlighted that the sale mixes commercial and political considerations. Reuters reminded readers that China briefly ordered a pause on Boeing deliveries during a tariff spat last year and that export controls, financing terms and rare-earths policy remain practical obstacles that could still derail talks. Analysts point out that even with a signed contract, delivering hundreds of narrowbodies and dozens of widebodies would play out over several years and require coordinated supplier capacity.
For now, company spokespeople and officials are keeping quiet. If finalized, the deal would be a major boost to Boeing’s delivery pipeline and to jobs across the Everett-Renton supply chain, but as Reuters makes clear, the headline number is not yet a done deal and remains subject to diplomatic and commercial negotiation.
