Trump as Boeing's Salesman at the UN?
Major aircraft orders are usually announced at international events like the Paris or Dubai Airshow. But this week, Washington and New York took center stage thanks to the UN General Assembly. Besides discussing global issues, the forum also showcased President Donald Trump's signature economic statecraft: blending diplomacy with major business deals.
Trump has once again made Boeing a symbol of US economic influence. As of August, the aircraft manufacturer had secured 725 sales, surpassing the 600 units recorded by its rival, Airbus. Turkey is reportedly preparing an order for up to 250 commercial jets, while Uzbekistan Airways has officially placed an order for 22 Dreamliner 787s — the largest order in the airline's history. Trump quickly hailed these transactions as "great deals" on his Truth Social account.
Other countries are also on his radar. Morocco is considering offers from Boeing and Airbus, while Indonesia is expected to formalize the purchase of 50 737 Max aircraft following a trade deal with the US. Trump has previously claimed a role in various deals, including orders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Etihad Airways. However, many contracts are tentative and will take time to close due to Boeing and Airbus's limited production capacity.
One major opportunity still hanging in the balance is China, with a potential order of up to 500 aircraft. However, trade tensions are holding up deals. Trump is said to be meeting with President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit, opening the possibility of new negotiations. Although most of the new orders will only materialize long after Trump leaves the White House, he continues to position himself as Boeing's "chief salesman" on the global stage. (ads)
Source: Bloomberg.com
