China just reopened the door for Boeing (NYSE:BA) and it could be the cash-flow boost the planemaker's been waiting for. After a month-long freeze, Chinese regulators have quietly lifted restrictions on jet deliveries from the US, according to people familiar with the matter. Airlines in China have been given the green light to take delivery of roughly 50 aircraft this year, though exact timing will be left up to each carrier. The move comes on the heels of a 90-day tariff truce between Washington and Beijing that slashed duties on both sides, offering a potential reset in one of Boeing's most critical markets.

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with BA.

The backdrop? A temporary cut in US tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, and China reducing its own from 125% to 10%. It's not a resolution but it's breathing life back into commercial aviation orders that had been stalled for years. China was once responsible for nearly a quarter of Boeing's deliveries, but tensions under both Trump and Biden, along with quality issues like the 737 Max grounding and the 2024 door panel incident, have pushed many Chinese orders toward Airbus. Now, with some Max jets rerouted from China to buyers in India and Saudi Arabia, this partial thaw could help stabilize Boeing's pipeline if the detente holds.

While Boeing declined to comment, the implications are hard to ignore. Resumed deliveries mean incoming payments, fewer logistical headaches, and a renewed shot at reclaiming lost market share in a country that could represent 20% of global jet demand over the next two decades. But investors shouldn't bank on smooth skies just yet this could be a limited window. If talks falter after 90 days, Boeing may find itself right back where it started: on the tarmac, waiting.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

View Comments