Aviation giant is trying to convince Washington and Beijing of ‘mutual benefit’ for both sides from free tradeIt will press on with building a factory in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province
Boeing is trying to play the role of peacemaker in the trade war between the United States and China, its vice-president of marketing has told the Post.
The American aircraft manufacturer has been talking to Washington and Beijing about the “mutual benefit” the two countries enjoy from free trade.
Speaking during the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines annual summit in Jeju Island, South Korea, last week, Randy Tinseth said Boeing had been emphasising this point to both sides.
There is plenty at stake for Boeing, which expects to do business totalling US$1 trillion with China over the next 20 years.
“You can imagine, we are the largest exporter in the US,” Tinseth said. “Eighty per cent of what we build, we deliver outside [the country], so having open, free and fair trade is very important us.
“Frankly, we have a lot of partners in China. Every aeroplane we build has parts and assemblies from China, so we continue to emphasise that relationship.”
Despite the trade war, Boeing has continued its partnership with Chinese airlines, and last year 30 per cent of the company’s business went “to customers directly, or through leasing to Chinese carriers”.
