President Donald Trump announced a significant agreement with China for the purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft. This commitment emerged from high-level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a substantial order that exceeded Boeing’s initial expectations for the deal. The announcement provides a crucial boost for the American aerospace manufacturer in a key international market.

The confirmed order surpasses the 150 aircraft Boeing had anticipated and represents a notable win given China’s recent preference for orders from Boeing’s primary competitor, Airbus, over the past decade. While some market analysts, such as Jefferies, had projected an even larger commitment of up to 500 aircraft in anticipation of President Trump’s visit to China, the 200-jet agreement is still seen as a major development.

Specific models included in the agreement were not immediately detailed, but industry observers speculate that the purchase is likely to comprise a significant number of Boeing’s best-selling 737 Max planes. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg had previously indicated that the U.S.-China summit presented a “meaningful opportunity” for the company, hinting at an impending, substantial aircraft order. Following the news, Boeing shares experienced fluctuations, initially closing 4.73% lower before seeing a modest recovery of 0.29% in after-hours trading.