Boeing wins again as Trump trade deal secures 100-jet order from Japan
July 24, 2025
US President Donald Trump has announced a major victory for American aerospace manufacturing, with Japan agreeing to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft as part of a sweeping new bilateral trade and investment agreement.
The White House described the pact as “unprecedented,” encompassing industrial cooperation, defence equipment, and strategic energy security.
But for Boeing, the big win comes with Japan’s commitment to buying a substantial number of US-made commercial aircraft. The White House briefing read:
- Japan has committed to purchase U.S.-made commercial aircraft, including an agreement to buy 100 Boeing aircraft;
- Additional billions of dollars annually of purchases of U.S. defense equipment, enhancing interoperability and alliance security in the Indo-Pacific.
The specific aircraft types and customer breakdown have not been officially detailed.
While not matching the scale of Qatar Airways’ historic widebody purchase earlier in 2025, Japan’s 100‑jet commitment still ranks as one of the more sizeable national-level Boeing agreements in recent years.
Did Trump force Japan to order 100 Boeing jets?
While not explicitly framed as a quid pro quo, the Japanese commitment to purchase Boeing jets did not occur in isolation.
According to reports in the Washington Post the agreement followed more than 100 days of tense negotiations, during which Trump threatened steep tariffs on Japanese cars, rice, and other exports unless a deal was struck.
The White House had set a deadline of 1 August for new tariffs to be imposed if an agreement wasn’t reached, leaving Japan facing severe economic consequences.
Under this pressure, Tokyo finalised the strategic package, which includes the aircraft deal alongside wider pledges of industrial investment and enhanced defence alignment.
For President Trump, the outcome is a dual win: a perceived political victory on trade and a clear commercial boost for Boeing, one of the United States’ key exporters.
For Japan, the move likely reflects both commercial need and a broader strategic aim to maintain favour in an increasingly transactional relationship with Washington.
Which airlines will get the aircraft?
No Japanese airline has confirmed that it is directly involved in the 100-aircraft commitment.
However, the country’s two major carriers, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), have both placed significant Boeing orders in recent months, suggesting the government-level deal may partly validate or expand on existing commercial activity.
In March, JAL ordered 17 more Boeing 737 MAX 8s to modernise its domestic fleet, taking its 737 MAX backlog to 38 aircraft. Meanwhile, ANA announced in February that it would purchase up to 77 new aircraft across Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer, including 18 787-9s for long-haul routes.
While not part of the White House deal, these orders show an ongoing fleet modernisation that may benefit from additional aircraft.
Of course, the aircraft could be destined for Japanese lessors, regional airlines, or other parties, too.
Japan’s acquisition is likely to be spread over several years, aligned with Boeing’s already-constrained delivery schedule.
Trump trade deals consistently benefit Boeing
As President Trump turns the screws on nations around the world, the orders are flooding in for Boeing.
Recent economic cooperation talks yielded a $96 billion Qatar Airways order, as well as Boeing’s first deal with Saudi-based lessor AviLease for 737 MAX jets. In the UAE, Trump’s visit spurred an Etihad order worth $14.5 billion, including the 777X and 787.
In the UK, the trade deal came with an order for 30 Boeing 787s for British Airways. Trump has said Indonesia will buy 50 Boeing jets, with many rumoured to be 777s, as part of a trade deal. Bloomberg reports India is considering a Boeing order as part of trade talks.
As the United States’ largest exporter, Boeing remains a powerful tool in the White House’s bilateral negotiating strategy. With their high dollar value and long lead times, aircraft purchases offer a rapid way to shift trade statistics, supporting the Trump administration’s aim to ‘rebalance the books.’
For Boeing, these deals are helping to fuel a recovery in its stock price at a time when its investments in quality control, production oversight, and regulatory engagement are beginning to show results.
