On Tuesday, China instructed its airlines to stop receiving jet deliveries from the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
Bloomberg reported that the Chinese government also ordered airlines to suspend the purchase of aviation equipment and parts from U.S. companies altogether.
This directive is part of the ongoing trade war between Beijing and Washington, which has been intensifying.
Recently, the two largest economies in the world imposed retaliatory tariffs on each other, further escalating the trade tensions.
In response to the situation, the Chinese government is also contemplating support for airlines that lease Boeing jets, which are now facing higher costs.
Such a move could lead Chinese airlines to explore alternatives from Airbus, based in Europe, or from China’s own manufacturer, Comac.