Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on May 14 that he expects China to commit to large Boeing orders, a signal that the aerospace giant could become a key beneficiary of renewed trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing.

The announcement sent Boeing’s stock climbing as investors priced in the possibility of a major deal tied to President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China.

The ‘three Bs’ strategy

Bessent framed the trade discussions around what he called the “three Bs”: beans, beef, and Boeing. It is a push to boost US exports in agriculture, livestock, and aerospace.

Beyond aircraft, Bessent indicated that discussions also cover expanded Chinese purchases of US energy and agricultural products, including soybeans, natural gas, and beef alongside those 737s and 787s.

Trade ties under reconstruction

The talks also reportedly include negotiations to establish a joint board of trade that would oversee bilateral commercial relations.

For China, placing large Boeing orders serves a dual purpose. It addresses genuine demand from Chinese airlines while functioning as a diplomatic gesture that signals willingness to engage constructively with Washington. Beijing has used aircraft purchases as a bargaining chip before, toggling between Boeing and Airbus depending on the state of US-China relations.

What this means for investors

Bessent said he would be watching whether China actually commits to larger Boeing purchases, which means even the Treasury Secretary is framing this as anticipated rather than finalized. Investors should calibrate accordingly. The stock may have already moved on the optimism, meaning the actual announcement during Trump’s Beijing visit becomes a “sell the news” risk if orders come in below what the market has priced in.