Boeing has named a Mandarin-speaking, former White House adviser to China’s president

Boeing Boeing China has appointed Mandarin speaker and former White House adviser Landon Loomis as its new president, relying on his deep experience in Beijing to stabilize the planemaker’s position as US-China tensions flare again.

With this appointment, effective immediately, Loomis will take over the role from his predecessor, Alvin Liu. Appointed to this role in August 2023.

Loomis will run day-to-day operations, policy and senior government relations from Beijing, while continuing in his current role as Boeing’s vice president of global strategy.

Before joining Boeing in 2019, Loomis spent five years as a trade attache at the US Embassy in Beijing where he oversaw the aviation portfolio and other programs, and then served as special adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence for more than two years.

“There is no one better suited to serve as president of Boeing China than Landon Loomis,” said Brendan Nelson, president of Boeing Global. “Landon will continue to build on our long-standing partnership and presence in China, drawing on his deep industry and government experience and his own experience living and working in China.”

Prior to his appointment, Loomis served as president of Boeing Latin America and the Caribbean and CEO of Boeing Brazil.

Trump earlier this month Boeing threatened to stop the export of aircraft parts As part of Washington’s response, Beijing has imposed strict export restrictions on rare earth minerals. Asked what items the US could impose export controls on, Trump said: “We have a lot of things, one of the big things is airplanes. They (China) have a lot of Boeing planes, and they need parts and a lot of things like that.”

In April, Beijing Orders its airlines to stop accepting new Boeing jetsMany planes destined for China are being sent back to the US as part of an escalating conflict with Washington. Then Beijing Quietly backpedaled Tensions on both sides eased in May The first round of talks was held in Geneva.

Still, the airline highlighted uncertainty in the US-China trade relationship, including tariffs, export restrictions. Key risks to the growth outlook. While deliveries have resumed in China, the company still faces the risk of lower deliveries or losing market share, The company said in June.

As of June, Boeing had about 20 737-8s in production for customers in China that it planned to deliver this year.

Bloomberg Reported in August Boeing is working towards finalizing a deal to sell as many as 500 jets to Chinese carriers – a major boost for the planemaker, which is facing a slump in orders in the world’s second-largest aviation market.

Its rival Airbus on Wednesday He announced the opening of another assembly line In China, increasing production capacity in the country and increasing pressure on Boeing.